Officials from Mumbai land in Kolkata to learn about trams

Kolkata: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai has approached West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) for exchange of ideas regarding technicalities involved to operate trams.

According to sources, BMC is planning to run eco-friendly vehicles in Mumbai. "I think they (Maharashtra government) are planning to run trams. Last month, BMC officials came to Nonapukur tram depot. They saw how we run our services. They saw the single bogey AC tram," said a senior official of WBTC.

Trams were introduced by Britishers in Kolkata. In India, trams ply nowhere in the country except Kolkata. There are seven tram depots — Belgachhia, Rajabazar, Park Circus, Gariahat, Tollygunge, Kalighat and Khidirpur. There are also nine terminals and a workshop for trams in the city. Trams have two coaches, one of which is a first-class compartment, while the other is a second class compartment.

The double-bogie trams are 57-feet long. It has two bogies, each 28-feet long. Single-bogie AC and NON-AC trams have been recently introduced during the regime of Mamata Banerjee government. Single-bogie tram is 36-feet long. In September this year, state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari had flagged off two fully air-conditioned single-coach trams and six non-air-conditioned single-coach trams with a seating capacity of 32 from Esplanade Tram Control.

The Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company (BEST) purchased Bombay Tramway Company Limited (BTCL) and started operating Mumbai's first electric tram system in 1907 while the double-decker trams were introduced in 1920. In March 1964, trams were not longer used due to increase in traffic in Mumbai.

"We are happy that the BMC is mulling to introduce trams in Mumbai. Trams are not only our heritage but also eco-friendly," said Swarnabha Mukherjee, member of Calcutta Tram Users Association.