Greens, heritage lovers flag off special tram ride in Kolkata to usher in eco-friendly Durga Puja

"Tilottama Tramjatra," a special tram ride, was organized as a precursor to the Durga Puja celebration to spread awareness about sustainable transportation and the UNESCO Heritage tag associated with the city's biggest street festival. It followed days after a Durga Puja themed specially decked and painted tram, sponsored by Asian Paints, was flagged off.

This tram ride was attended by specially-abled children and was organized by Tramjatra and Calcutta Tram Users Association in collaboration with Calcutta Heritage Collective, Mritika Earthy Talks Foundation, SwitchON Foundation and WICCI (West Bengal Council for Climate Action.)

The ride was flagged off by G.M. Kapur, Head of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Kolkata chapter and filmmaker Raja Sen at the Gariahat Tram Depot.

"Trams are the heritage of the city, but they are the living heritage and we need to preserve them, not as a heritage building but as something which is going to provide sustainable mobility to this city," said Kapur.

Filmmaker Raja Sen sharing a glimpse of his past experiences with the tram rides said:"Kolkata trams are a living nostalgia for us, which promotes sustainable and a greener future. I wish this heritage continues beyond the generation of our grandchildren."

The journey began from the Gariahat Tram Depot as the streetcar rumbled down the tracks to the Esplanade terminus in downtown Kolkata and finally reached Shyambazar in the north to come back to Gariahat in the south following the same route.

Trams, which started rolling in Kolkata streets in 1873 under the Calcutta Tramways Company continued with its British ownership well after India became independent and was nationalised in 1967 and slowly intertwined with city life. Under the shadow of its discontinuance to make way for faster transports, it has now marked its 150 years of journey in Kolkata.

Kolkata, which has been ranked as the second most polluted city by State of Global Air Report, 2022, reels under foul air due to high transport emissions, leading to rising health risks.

Kolkata trams have been affected by route closures which reduced its route to only three. Thus, the city needs modern tram systems and sustainable transport integration to combat pollution, according to experts.

The event not only raised awareness but also set the stage for an eco-conscious Durga Puja celebration. Participants pledged to embrace sustainable mobility during the festive season, reducing their carbon footprint and ensuring cleaner air for all.

Reporting by Ayush Gupta