Calcutta Tramways Company
Encyclopedia
The Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Limited (CTC) is a West Bengal
, India government-run company which runs trams in Kolkata
(formerly known as Calcutta) and buses in and around Kolkata. The Kolkata tram is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902.
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"*" indicates routes in South-West Kolkata suspended for reconstruction. These routes will be restored only after the construction is complete, time yet unknown. Reconstruction route : Kalighat Tram Depot to Kidderpore Junction via Judges' Court Road - Mominpur - D H Road.
For closed routes, see the latest Kolkata tram map on right.
The initial bus service was introduced from Rajabazar with a fleet of 40 buses, augmented in 1993 with service from Kidderpore depot. The Tollygunge and Belgatchia depots were added in 1994 and 1995, respectively. In 2005, the CTC began bus service from Ghasbagan depot at Howrah.
The CTC is headed by a Chairman/Managing Director. Directors reporting to the Chairman are:
Mid-level officers of the CTC include:
The early horse-drawn cars were imported from England, as were the steel tram cars manufactured before 1952. Until then, most Kolkata tram cars were bought from the English Electric Company and Dick, Kerr & Co.
After 1952, the cars were built in India.
s (like Mumbai's) have never yet been used in Kolkata. Triple-coach trams were unsuccessfully tried. Single-coach trams were used on the Shibpur line until its closure in 1970.
Earlier stock was of the SLT type. It was double-coach with three doors, four wheels under each coach and no wheels between coaches. SLT trams had no front iron net, but had a front-coach trolley pole. The both-end type had a front iron net and a rear-coach trolley pole. SLTs were the first double-coach trams, introduced only on the Kolkata side of the Hooghly River (not on the Howrah side). They were gradually replaced by articulated trams on all routes. The SLC type was introduced much later on the Bandhaghat line, and continued until its closure in 1971; after that, SLC trams began running on the G/H and T/G lines on the Kolkata side. Articulated trams were in use until 1989.
There are several types of rolling stock:
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Recently, two trams were completely renovated to world-class standards with front and back glass, fluorescent lights, FM radio, digital display boards, slanted seats and a fibreglass
ceiling. More renovated trams are planned; from 2008 to 2010 the Nonapukur workshop manufactured 19 new-look trams, of which four are in the final stages of completion. The rooftop is clear polycarbonate sheeting with a wide window space, comfortable seating and better visibility from inside and out. An air-conditioned tram is under consideration, which will use an M-and-G system. These innovative trams already attract commuters and foreign tourists in Kolkata. Nonapukur Workshop is now manufacturing new tram cars and renovating existing steel-body (BSCL) cars. Currently-manufactured tram cars in the CTC workshop now compare favorably with those of other developed countries. In addition to passenger cars, there are also rail-scrubber cars (which polish the tracks using jets of water), flat cars for goods transportation (some of which are modified from obsolete single-coach Howrah trams) and a tower-inspection car for checking wires.
, Park Circus
, Gariahat, Tollygunge
, Kalighat
and Kidderpur; nine terminals – Shyambazar
, Galiff Street, Bagbazar
, Bidhannagar, Ballygunge
, Esplanade
, B. B. D. Bagh
, Behala
, Joka
and Howrah Bridge
; and one workshop at Nonapukur. Rajabazar and Tollygunge depots are the largest in terms of tracks and area, respectively. Kidderpur depot is the oldest, and Kalighat the smallest. The Esplanade terminus has the most tram routes.
Anti-tram sentiment began about 1955, and spread around the world. Many countries (both developed and developing) began closing their tram systems, and India was no exception. Tram service closed in Kanpur in 1933, Chennai in 1955, Delhi in 1962 and Mumbai in 1964. Kolkata's network survived, but in a truncated form. At the same time the automobile boom began, quickly spreading throughout India.
Many streets were narrow (which was acceptable for tram service), but now cars, buses and lorries also used those roads. The government considered closing the trams, as an alternative to controlling motor traffic. Some routes (Bandhaghat, Shibpur
and Nimtala) were closed for that reason, although traffic jams have not been alleviated. Many streets in Kolkata which have no tram line experience daily gridlock
.
Although most track beds have been converted from stone to concrete, earlier paving of Strand Road closed the High Court route. Construction of the subway line also destroyed an important north-south connection, from Lalbazar to Jatin Das Park via Esplanade and Birla Planetarium
. The development of overpasses is another reason for the decline of Kolkata trams. The Sealdah, Gariahat and Taratala overpasses were the main cause for the closing of the Sealdah
terminus, Gahriahat link and the Joka
route (which also made way for a national highway). There were many closures between 1970 and 1980, and many thought that it was the beginning of the end for trams in Kolkata, but the situation changed after 1990. At that time, many cities around the world began reevaluating tram service. Greater numbers of automobiles increased air pollution. High prices of petrol and diesel fuel on the international market also made electric-powered street rail more attractive.
Trams have many advantages:
Some political leaders (and many environmentalists) favored tram service. As a result the Kolkata tram survived, but not as robustly as it did before 1970. Tramways in Kolkata are now suffering, due to motor traffic and the outdated business model of its operators (the CTC and the government of West Bengal
), although there has been some conversion of trackbed from stone to concrete and renovation of rolling stock.
Trams were the brainchild of the then-Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. His motives were to ensure better public transport for the native people, better passage of goods from ports and dockyards to their respective destinations, and rapid mobilisation of police
contingents to sites of anti-British protests. Thus, trams were the first mode of police transportation in Kolkata since police cars, vans, buses, lorries and armoured cars
were not been introduced until 1917.
The trams of Kolkata had played a major role in stopping Hindu-Muslim riots during the pre-independence era; in contrast, many trams were also burned by local people as an act of protest against colonial rule, since the tram was viewed by many Indians as a "British" import. Even after independence, during the 1960s many trams were burned for raising fares by only one paise (1/100 Rupee).
The Kolkata tramway has many vintage features. It still uses a trolley pole and foot gong (after a failed experiment with electric horn during the late 1980s), which is rare among international tram systems (except heritage tramways and standard networks like Hong Kong and Toronto). It has tram cars with no front glass or destination board – instead, iron route-boards hang from the front iron net. The last new rolling stock was manufactured in 1987 by Jessop India Ltd, and many trams from 1939 are still running. The recent de-reservation of tram tracks flies in the face of international trends. Although trams are faster, and derailments rare, it is often impossible to get up or down from a moving tram on wide roads such as Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Road, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu Road, Acharya Satyendra Nath Basu Sarani, Satin Sen Sarani, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Lila Roy Sarani, Rash Behari Avenue, Deshapran Birendra Shasmal Road or Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhyay Road. Only one new branch (Bidhannagar) and one extension (the short-lived Joka) were built after independence, and no extension of the network is planned. With a mix of good and bad, however, the Kolkata tram is still running as Asia's oldest operating electric tram and the only tram in India.
but (apart from paving the trackbed and repairing wires and masts), little real improvement has been done; for unmaterialized future plans, see the "latest Kolkata tram map" above.
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India government-run company which runs trams in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(formerly known as Calcutta) and buses in and around Kolkata. The Kolkata tram is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902.
Timeline
- An attempt was made to run a 2.4 miles (3.9 km) tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February. The service was not adequately patronised, and was discontinued on 20 Nov.
1880
- The Calcutta Tramway Co. Ltd was formed and registered in London on 22 December. Metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November.
1882
- Steam locomotives were deployed experimentally to haul tram cars. By the end of the nineteenth century the company owned 166 tram cars, 1000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles of tram tracks.
1900
- Electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to (standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
) was begun.
1902
- The first electric tramcar in Asia ran from EsplanadeEsplanadeAn esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
to KidderporeKidderporeKhidirpur or Kidderpore is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata . Located in the central-west part of the city, it is bounded by the districts of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north, Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.-History:One of the...
on 27 March, and on 14 June from Esplanade to Kalighat.
1903
- The Kalighat line was extended to Tollygunje, the Esplanade line to Belgachhia (via Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar), and the Esplanade to Shialdaha route (via Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Rajib Gandhi Sarani and
[present] Mahatma Gandhi Road) opened.
1904
- Esplanade to Bagbazar route through College StreetCollege StreetCollege Street may refer to:*College Street *College Street *College Street *College Street -- A road in Dublin City Centre....
opened.
1905
- Howrah Station to Bandhaghat route was opened to trams in June. Electrification project completed.
1906
- Bowbazar Junction to Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Ahiritola Junction to Hatibagan Junction routes opened.
1908
- Lines to Shibpur via G.T. Road prepared. Esplanade to Shialdaha station via Moula Ali Junction, Moula Ali Junction to Nonapukur, Wattganj Junction to J.Das Park Junction (via Alipur), Mominpur Junction to Behala routes opened.
1910
- Shialdaha Station to RajabazarRajabazarRajabazar is a locality in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. It is located approximately in North-Central Kolkata, between CIT Road and AJC Bose Road. The locality has grown around Narkeldanaga Main Road, now renamed as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Sarani, which acts as a connector between CIT...
route opened.
1915
- Mirzapur Junction to Bowbazar Junction and Shialdaha Station to Lebutala Junction routes opened.
1920
- Strand Road Junction to High Court route opened.
1923
- S.C.Mallik Square Junction to Park CircusPark Circus- Location :Park Circus is an area in South Kolkata. It has Entally and Sealdah to its north, Park Street and Chowringhee to its west, Taltala to its north west, Topsia and Ballygunge to its south & Tangra to its east. It is connected to both Park Street and AJC Bose Road. It is a locality of...
route (via Royd Street, Nonapukur) opened.
1925
- Barhabazar Junction to Nimtala route opened.
1928
- Kalighat to Baliganj route opened.
1930
- Park Circus line extended to Garhiahat Junction.
1941
- Rajabazar line extended to Galiff Street.
1943
- The Calcutta system was connected with the Howrah section through the new Howrah BridgeHowrah BridgeThe Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it links the city of Howrah to its twin city, Kolkata . On 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu, after Rabindranath...
in February. With this extension, the total track length reached 42 miles (67.59 km).
1951
- The government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted. The government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways, and reserved the right to purchase the system (with two years' notice) on 1 January 1972 or any time thereafter.
1967
- The Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July. On 8 November 1976 the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated, under which the company (and its assets) united with the government.
1970
- The Howrah sections were closed in October; the 1971/1973 Nimtala route was closed down in May 1973, and realignment of the Howrah Station terminus occurred. Total track length was now reduced to 38 miles (61.2 km).
1980
- Tram tracks on Bentinck Street and Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay Road closed for construction of the Kolkata metro; following construction, these stretches were not reopened. Overhead wires were present until 1994 on Bentinck Street. Tracks on Jawaharlal Nehru Road remained after realignment, making a new terminus at Birla Planetarium; the Birla Planetarium route closed in 1991. An overpass was constructed on that road in 2006.
1982
- The SealdahSealdahSealdah is one of the major train stations serving Kolkata in India, the others being Howrah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata Railway Station. Sealdah is one of the busiest rail stations in India and an important suburban rail terminal...
Station terminus (along with the Sealdaha – Lebutala stretch on Bipin Bihari Gangopadhyay Street) closed for construction of an overpass. The site is now occupied by Sealdah Court and a bus terminal.
1985
- On 17 April, tracks were extended connecting Manicktola to Ultadanga via Manicktola Main road and C. I. T. Road 3.7 km (2.3 mi). This was the first Tramways extension since 1947.
1986
- On 31 December, further extension of tram tracks from Behala to Joka was completed.
1992
- Calcutta Tramways Company undertook a new venture by introducing bus service from 4 November, initially with a fleet of 40 buses.
1993
- Howrah Station terminus closed and tram tracks removed on Howrah Bridge; the cantilever bridge proved too weak for trams. All routes terminated there were shortened to the Barhabazar (Howrah Bridge) terminus (formerly Barhabazar Junction).
1995
- High Court terminus closed for reconstruction of Strand Road. Rails and wires were removed from there and from Strand Road, Hare Street and Shahid Kshudiram Basu Road. The site is now occupied by the newest building of the Kolkata High Court.
2004
- Garhiahat Depot – Garhiahat Junction link on Gariahat Road closed for construction of the Gariahat overpass.
2006
- Mominpur – Behala stretch on Diamond Harbour Road closed for construction of an overpass at Taratala. Initially, there was a plan to route tracks on that overpass after its completion, but the road was later converted to a National Highway and the plan dismissed. The Behala – Joka stretch is still in existence, along with the Behala terminus.
2007
- Wattgunge Junction – Mominpur Diamond Harbour Road, Mominpur – Jatin Das Park Judges Court Road, Jatin Das Park – Kalighat Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road routes closed for reconstruction. As of October 2011, they have not yet reopened.
2008
- Galiff Street terminus realigned. Irregular service from Bagbazar to Galiff Street converted to regular by Route 7/12. RailsRail profileThe rail profile is the cross sectional shape of a railway rail, perpendicular to the length of the rail.In all but very early cast iron rails, a rail is hot rolled steel of a specific cross sectional profile designed for use as the fundamental component of railway track.Unlike some other uses of...
and wiresOverhead linesOverhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
removed from part of Bidhan Sarani route (restored by end of year).
2009
- Tracks on R. G. Kar Road from Shyambazar five-point crossing to Belgatchia tram depot closed down for reconstruction. As of early 2011, they are not yet restored.
Tram routes
| Route No. | Description | Length (km) | Streets served |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgatchia to Esplanade Esplanade, Calcutta Esplanade is an area in central Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. This is not a conventional esplanade in the sense that the place is not exactly situated alongside a waterbody. However, the river Ganges, also known as the Ganga or the Hooghly, is located nearby... |
7.29 | R.G.Kar Rd – Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani |
| 2 | Belgatchia to BBD Bag B. B. D. Bagh B.B.D. Bag , formerly called Dalhousie Square, is the shortened version for Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bag . It is the seat of power of the state government, as well as the central business district in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Origin of name:B.B.D... |
6.81 | R.G.Kar Rd – Bidhan Sarani – College Street – B.B.Ganguly Street |
| 4 | Belgatchia to BBD Bag | 6.92 | R.G.Kar Rd – Bidhan Sarani – Aurobinda Sarani – Rabindra Sarani |
| 5 | Shyambazar Shyambazar Shyambazar is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as... to Esplanade |
5.13 | Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani |
| 6 | Shyambazar to BBD Bag | 5.13 | Bidhan Sarani – College Street – B.B. Ganguly Street |
| 8 | Bagbazar Bagbazar There is also a bagbazar in Kathmandu, Nepal.Bagbazar is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, in the Indian state of West Bengal... to BBD Bag |
5.13 | Rabindra Sarani – Lalbazar Street |
| 10 | Shyambazar to BBD Bag | 5.13 | Bidhan Sarani – Aurobinda Sarani – Rabindra Sarani – Lalbazar Street |
| 11 | Belgachhia to Howrah Bridge | 4.32 | Bidhan Sarani – Mahatma Gandhi Road |
| 12 | Rajabazar to Esplanade | 3.32 | A.P.C.Road – A.J.C.Bose Road – Lenin Sarani |
| 12/7 | Galiff Street to Esplanade | 6.52 | Rabindra Sarani – Lalbazar Street – Hemanta Basu Sarani |
| 14 | Rajabazar to BBD Bag | 3.81 | A.P.C Road – Surya Sen St. – Raja Rammohan Sarani – B.B. Ganguly Street – Lalbazar Street |
| 15/12 | Rajabazar to Howrah Bridge | 4.81 | A.P.C.Road – Surya Sen St. – Mahatma Gandhi Road |
| 16 | Bidhan Nagar to BBD Bag | 8.14 | C.I.T. Rd. – Maniktala Main Rd. – A.P.C Rd. – Surya Sen St. – Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani – B.B. Ganguly Street – Lalbazar Street |
| 17 | Bidhan Nagar to Esplanade | 8.14 | C.I.T. Rd. – Maniktala Main Rd. – A.P.C. Rd. – A.J.C. Bose Rd. – Lenin Sarani |
| 20 | Park Circus Park Circus - Location :Park Circus is an area in South Kolkata. It has Entally and Sealdah to its north, Park Street and Chowringhee to its west, Taltala to its north west, Topsia and Ballygunge to its south & Tangra to its east. It is connected to both Park Street and AJC Bose Road. It is a locality of... to Howrah Bridge |
8.43 |
S.A.Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C.Bose Road – M.G.Road |
| 21 | Parkcircus to Howrah Bridge | 11.43 | S.A.Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C.Bose Road – Elliot Road - Royd Street - Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road Lenin Sarani - Hemanta Basu Sarani - Lalbazar Street - Rabindra Sarani - M.G.Road |
| 22 | Parkcircus to BBD Bag | 5.31 | S.A.Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C.Bose Road – Elliot Road – Royd Street – Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road – Lenin Sarani – Hemanta Basu Sarani |
| 20/17 | Parkcircus to Bidhan Nagar | 8.25 | S.A.Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C.Bose Road – A.P.C. Road – Maniktala Main Road – C.I.T. Road |
| 24* | Ballygunge Ballygunge Ballygunge is an upmarket and elite locality in South Kolkata, India. It is flanked by Park Circus in the north, Kasba and the Eastern Railway south suburban line in the east, Dhakuria and the Lakes in the south, and the localities of Bhowanipore and Lansdowne in the west... Station to BBD Bag (Route is temporarily closed for reconstruction.) |
12.68 | Rash Behari Avenue – S.P. Mukherjee Road – Judges Court Road – D.H. Road – Karl Marx Sarani – Kidderpore Road – Casuarina Avenue – Dufferin Road – Esplanade – Hemanta Basu Sarani |
| 25 | Gariahat to BBD Bag | 7.25 | Gariahat Road – Ashutosh Chowdhury Road – S.A. Ali Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C. Bose Road – Elliot Road – Royd Street – R.A. Kidwai Road – Lenin Sarani – Esplanade – Hemanta Basu Sarani |
| 26 | Gariahat to Howrah Bridge | 9.08 | Gariahat Road – Ashutosh Chowdhury Road – S.A. Ali Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C. Bose Road – M.G. Road |
| 26/17 | Gariahat to Bidhan Nagar | 10.15 | Gariahat Road – Ashutosh Chowdhury Road – S.A.Avenue – New Park Street – A.J.C.Bose Road – A.P.C. Road – Maniktala Main Road – C.I.T. Road |
| 29* | Tollygunge Tollygunge Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:... to BBD Bag (Route is temporarily closed for reconstruction.) |
12.55 | D.P. Sasmal Road – S.P.Mukherjee Road – Judges COurt Road – D.H. Road – Karl Marx Sarani – Kidderpore Road – Casuarina Avenue – Dufferin Road – Esplanade – Hemanta Basu Sarani |
| 30* | Kalighat Kalighat Kalighat is a locality of Kolkata, India. One of the oldest neighborhoods in South Kolkata, Kalighat is also densely populated and vibrant -- with a rich history of cultural intermingling with the various foreign incursions into the area over time.... to Howrah Bridge(Route is temporarily closed for reconstruction.) |
11.86 | S.P.Mukherjee Road – Judges Court Road – D.H. Road – Karl Marx Sarani – Kidderpore Road – Casuarina Avenue – Dufferin Road – Esplanade – Hemanta Basu Sarani – B.B.D. Bag – Lalbazar Street – Rabindra Sarani – M.G. Road |
| 24/29 | Tollygunge to Ballygunge Station | 5.45 | D.P. Sasmal Road – S.P. Mukherjee Road – R.B. Avenue |
| 36 | Kidderpore Kidderpore Khidirpur or Kidderpore is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata . Located in the central-west part of the city, it is bounded by the districts of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north, Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.-History:One of the... to Esplanade |
4.99 | Karl Marx Sarani- Kidderpore Road – Casuarina Avenue – Dufferin Road |
| 36/30 | Kidderpore Kidderpore Khidirpur or Kidderpore is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata . Located in the central-west part of the city, it is bounded by the districts of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north, Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.-History:One of the... to Howrah Bridge |
10.11 | Karl Marx Sarani- Kidderpore Road - Casuarina Avenue - Dufferin Road - Esplanade - Hemanta Basu Sarani - BBD Bag - Lalbazar Street - Rabindra Sarani - M.G.Road |
"*" indicates routes in South-West Kolkata suspended for reconstruction. These routes will be restored only after the construction is complete, time yet unknown. Reconstruction route : Kalighat Tram Depot to Kidderpore Junction via Judges' Court Road - Mominpur - D H Road.
For closed routes, see the latest Kolkata tram map on right.
Buses operated by CTC
The Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Ltd had undertaken a new venture by introducing bus service in November 1992. This enabled the CTC (by now a century old) to serve the people of Kolkata and the surrounding rural areas in accord with its tradition of dedication and commitment. Bus service would be an advantageous transport system for the company, as it would be able to access those areas not yet accessible by tram. It would continue the company's tradition of public service, and was expected to be fiscally advantageous. Since the introduction of the first CTC buses, the network has expanded rapidly. With over 40 routes throughout Kolkata and surrounding areas, its efficient service, comfort and smooth ride have won it a loyal ridership. The CTC fleet of buses, with its reputation for safety, reliability and punctuality, complements its tram service.The initial bus service was introduced from Rajabazar with a fleet of 40 buses, augmented in 1993 with service from Kidderpore depot. The Tollygunge and Belgatchia depots were added in 1994 and 1995, respectively. In 2005, the CTC began bus service from Ghasbagan depot at Howrah.
Management
- Managing Director – P.K. Chattopadhay
- General Manager – S.K. Pal
- Chief Accounts Officer/Secretary – Vacant as of early 2011
- Chief Operating Manager –
- Works Manager – S.S. Ghosh
- Chief Engineer – Vacant as of early 2011
Mid-level officers of the CTC include:
- Chief Medical Officer
- Controller of Stores
- Senior Engineers
- Assistant Engineers
Fleet
CTC owns 319 trams, of which 239 are operational; however, only 170 are running on the streets of Kolkata on a daily basis. The cars are single-deck articulated cars and can carry 200 passengers (60 seated).The early horse-drawn cars were imported from England, as were the steel tram cars manufactured before 1952. Until then, most Kolkata tram cars were bought from the English Electric Company and Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr and Company was a locomotive and tramcar manufacturer based in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Preston, England.-Early history:Having previously been known as W.B.Dick and Company the company had built all kinds of tramway equipment and rolling stock. From 1883 the company joined with John Kerr...
After 1952, the cars were built in India.
Rolling Stock Experiments
The introductory stock was single-coach, like other Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kanpur), because the new mode of transport was experimental. Since it gained popularity quickly, another coach was attached some years later (as in Mumbai), which is now standard. Double decker tramDouble decker tram
A double-decker tram is a tram that has two levels. Double-deck trams were once popular in some European cities, like Berlin and London, throughout the British Empire countries in the early half of the 20th century including Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington retired in 1962 in New Zealand....
s (like Mumbai's) have never yet been used in Kolkata. Triple-coach trams were unsuccessfully tried. Single-coach trams were used on the Shibpur line until its closure in 1970.
Earlier stock was of the SLT type. It was double-coach with three doors, four wheels under each coach and no wheels between coaches. SLT trams had no front iron net, but had a front-coach trolley pole. The both-end type had a front iron net and a rear-coach trolley pole. SLTs were the first double-coach trams, introduced only on the Kolkata side of the Hooghly River (not on the Howrah side). They were gradually replaced by articulated trams on all routes. The SLC type was introduced much later on the Bandhaghat line, and continued until its closure in 1971; after that, SLC trams began running on the G/H and T/G lines on the Kolkata side. Articulated trams were in use until 1989.
There are several types of rolling stock:
- Old SLC Type – The first double-coach tram with wheels between the coaches, manufactured at the Nonapukur workshop. It is sometimes called an 'elephant car' by the CTC; its cab and back side is narrow and slightly slanted forward, like the head of an elephant without the trunk. It was introduced as a higher-speed tram with an improved engine, designed to run on express routes such as Galiff Street, Baliganj, Tollyganj, Behala and Khidirpur. It was longer than an articulated tram, and was the first tram with a cab door. Although now fewer in number, SLC trams are still running (mainly on south Kolkata routes). One tram was modified with glass in front, and another with many lighted signs (making it resemble a moving billboard).
- SLC Type – This modified variation has a pivot, and is less stylish than articulated trams; it is also manufactured at Nonapukur. The only difference is that its front and back are straight, not slanted. It was also introduced as a higher-speed tram, with an improved engine, designed to run on express routes. Later, this type enjoyed more general use. "Modi-SLCs" are still in use, except on the Bidhannagar line due to its steep incline under the Kankurgatchi rail bridge. Three cars are still used as water cars.
- Articulated SLC Type – This is a slightly less-stylish variation of the articulated tram, also manufactured at Nonapukur. The only difference is that its front and back are overhanging, and narrow towards the ends. It also had an improved engine, but was suitable for local routes. Later, this type was also used on express routes. Some early cars were well-maintained, and these are also still in use.
- Renovated SLC Type – After many years of SLC and articulated trams a new type of rolling stock arrived in Kolkata, made by Burn Standard India Ltd. It is stronger, heavier and faster than earlier designs. A result of the decision around 1982 to continue tram service, it changed the image of Kolkata trams. The improved stock began running throughout the city network on all routes. Some trams were partly modified with front glass; two were modified to resemble Melbourne's B-class tramsB class Melbourne tramThe B class are a two-section, three-bogie articulated tram that operates in Melbourne, Victoria. Following the introduction of two B1-class trams in 1984 and 1985, a total of 130 B2-class trams were ordered by the Victorian Government and built by Comeng in Dandenong, Victoria...
, with fluorescent lights, back glass and double ends. These are the most common trams in Kolkata.
- New Cars – This was the last new rolling stock, built by Jessop India Ltd and a variation of the pivot type, introduced about 1984. Some trams were partly modified with front glass; one was modified with fluorescent lights, FM radio, digital advertising and route boards. These are the second-most-common tram in Kolkata. Three years after its introduction, the closure of Kolkata's trams was again considered by the government, so no more modern stock has been introduced since then.
Recently, two trams were completely renovated to world-class standards with front and back glass, fluorescent lights, FM radio, digital display boards, slanted seats and a fibreglass
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
ceiling. More renovated trams are planned; from 2008 to 2010 the Nonapukur workshop manufactured 19 new-look trams, of which four are in the final stages of completion. The rooftop is clear polycarbonate sheeting with a wide window space, comfortable seating and better visibility from inside and out. An air-conditioned tram is under consideration, which will use an M-and-G system. These innovative trams already attract commuters and foreign tourists in Kolkata. Nonapukur Workshop is now manufacturing new tram cars and renovating existing steel-body (BSCL) cars. Currently-manufactured tram cars in the CTC workshop now compare favorably with those of other developed countries. In addition to passenger cars, there are also rail-scrubber cars (which polish the tracks using jets of water), flat cars for goods transportation (some of which are modified from obsolete single-coach Howrah trams) and a tower-inspection car for checking wires.
Fare structure
- 1st class – Rs. 4 & Rs. 4.50 (depending on distance)
- 2nd class – Rs. 3.5 & Rs. 4 (depending on distance)
Cars
- Length: 17.5 m (57.4 ft)
- Width: 2.1 m (6.9 ft)
- Weight: 20 or 22 tons empty, depending on design
- Car manufacturer: England pre-1952; India post-1952. Burn Standard CompanyBurn Standard CompanyBern Standard Company Limited is a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India. Headquartered in Kolkata, India, BSCL is engaged in civil engineering projects and is a subsidiary of Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam. The company was formed with the merger of two companies — Burn & Company...
in Howrah manufactured numbers 207 to 299 from 1982. In 1986 some were manufactured by Jessop. 684 to 700 are operational, but only 170 are operating. - Length: 17.5 m (57.4 ft)
- Seating: 60 per car
- Speed: 50 km/h (31.1 mph) (max); avg speed: 25 km/h (15.5 mph)
- Controller: Three types – Cam (manufactured in London), GEC (manufactured in England) and Fuji (manufactured in Japan). Fuji is the most modern.
- Traction motor: Four types: TDK, Mitsubishi, Fuji and Bhel. EE-made traction motors are still in use – for example, 133A and 309/1B.
- Propulsion: Traction motor pinion, directly coupled via pinion-and-gear mechanism with drive wheel
- Track gauge: Standard Indian gaugeIndian gaugeIndian gauge is a track gauge commonly used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Chile. It is also the gauge that is used on BART , in northern California.- Scotland :...
– 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) - Brakes: Pneumatic type through air compressor (DC 550V)
- Voltage: 550 volts DC in overhead wires.
- No vestibule or door shutter
- Single-ended car
- Current drawn by trolley poleTrolley poleA trolley pole is a tapered cylindrical pole of wood or metal, used to transfer electricity from a "live" overhead wire to the control and propulsion equipment of a tram or trolley bus. The use of overhead wire in a system of current collection is reputed to be the 1880 invention of Frank J....
Depots and terminals
There are seven tram depots – Belgachhia, RajabazarRajabazar
Rajabazar is a locality in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. It is located approximately in North-Central Kolkata, between CIT Road and AJC Bose Road. The locality has grown around Narkeldanaga Main Road, now renamed as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Sarani, which acts as a connector between CIT...
, Park Circus
Park Circus
- Location :Park Circus is an area in South Kolkata. It has Entally and Sealdah to its north, Park Street and Chowringhee to its west, Taltala to its north west, Topsia and Ballygunge to its south & Tangra to its east. It is connected to both Park Street and AJC Bose Road. It is a locality of...
, Gariahat, Tollygunge
Tollygunge
Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:...
, Kalighat
Kalighat
Kalighat is a locality of Kolkata, India. One of the oldest neighborhoods in South Kolkata, Kalighat is also densely populated and vibrant -- with a rich history of cultural intermingling with the various foreign incursions into the area over time....
and Kidderpur; nine terminals – Shyambazar
Shyambazar
Shyambazar is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as...
, Galiff Street, Bagbazar
Bagbazar
There is also a bagbazar in Kathmandu, Nepal.Bagbazar is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, in the Indian state of West Bengal...
, Bidhannagar, Ballygunge
Ballygunge
Ballygunge is an upmarket and elite locality in South Kolkata, India. It is flanked by Park Circus in the north, Kasba and the Eastern Railway south suburban line in the east, Dhakuria and the Lakes in the south, and the localities of Bhowanipore and Lansdowne in the west...
, Esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
, B. B. D. Bagh
B. B. D. Bagh
B.B.D. Bag , formerly called Dalhousie Square, is the shortened version for Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bag . It is the seat of power of the state government, as well as the central business district in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Origin of name:B.B.D...
, Behala
Behala
Behala is a neighbourhood in South West Kolkata, in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala was officially known as South Suburban Municipality until it was merged with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on January, 1984. Now it is broadly spread across Ward Nos.118 and 132 of the KMC and is...
, Joka
Joka
Joka may refer to:* Joka, a character in Klonoa: Door to Phantomile*Joka, Kolkata, a locality in South West Kolkata, India, the home of IIM Calcutta and DesiGuru*Tilapia joka, species of aquarium fish...
and Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it links the city of Howrah to its twin city, Kolkata . On 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu, after Rabindranath...
; and one workshop at Nonapukur. Rajabazar and Tollygunge depots are the largest in terms of tracks and area, respectively. Kidderpur depot is the oldest, and Kalighat the smallest. The Esplanade terminus has the most tram routes.
Alignment & Interchanges
- Tram passes over the railway bridge between Shyambazar and Belgachhia, near TalaTalaTala may refer to:* Samoan tālā, the monetary unit of Samoa* Tala , a DC Comics supervillainess of the Phantom Stranger* Tala , the goddess of stars in Tagalog mythology* Tala , a rhythmic pattern in Indian classical music...
. - Tram passes under the railway bridge between Maniktala and Bidhannagar, near KankurgachiKankurgachiKankurgachi is a place in North-Central Kolkata, India.With a cosmopolitan crowd and several commercial buildings and food joints, Kankurgachi is considered as one of the most affluent and elite places in Kolkata...
(only under-level track), and between Kalighat and Tollygunge, near Rabindra Sarobar. - Tram runs parallel over metro track from Shyambazar to Belgachhia, and from Jatin Das Park to Tollygunge.
- Tram track crosses metro track at Aurobinda Sarani, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bipin Bihari Gangopadhyay Street and Lenin Sarani.
- Tram runs on both sides of the road on Lenin Sarani and Surya Sen Street, and on either the right or left side on part of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Road, part of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu Road, Judges Court Road, Diamond Harbour Road, Karl Marx Sarani, Kidderpur Road, Dufferin Road, Casuarina Avenue, Elliot Road, Royd Street and Rabindra Sarani. On all other streets, tram runs in the middle of the road.
- Tram runs on overpass only at Shialdaha.
- Tram passes under overpass at Barhabazar, Wattganj, Race Course and Garhiahat.
- Tram crosses canals between Shyambazar and Belgachhia near Shyambazar, between Maniktala and Bidhannagar near Maniktala, between Jatin Das Park and Mominpur near Alipur, and between Wattganj and Esplanade near Wattganj.
- Interchange with metro at Belgachhia, Shyambazar, Esplanade, Kalighat and Tollygunge. Shobhabazar, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Jatin Das Park and Rabindra Sarobar metro stations also have tram accessibility.
- Interchange with train at Bagbazar, Bidhannagar, Park Circus, Ballygunge, Kidderpur, B.B.D Bagh and Tollygunge. Sealdah and Tala rail stations also have tram accessibility.
Advantages and criticism
Electric trams were the sole public transport until 1920, when the public bus was introduced in Kolkata. However, tram service until the 1950s was quite smooth and comfortable (although most new lines and extensions were built in pre-independence India). In 1950 there were around 300 tram cars, which were regularly operated on many routes in Kolkata and Howrah. Single-car trams operated on the Shibpur line until its closure; all other lines had double cars. Due to the large number of tram cars, the trams ran frequently (about a 5- to 7-minute wait between trams on all routes). This was possible due to less motor traffic on the roads than today. Derailments were very rare because of careful maintenance. All checkups were done at night, the water car was used for track smoothing and the tower car for wire-checking. Each tram was washed in the depot daily. Breakdown vans and overhead-wire inspection vans were ready at many junctions for quick repairs. Regular inspection of tracks, wires and so forth was done carefully. Tracks and track-bed gravel were replaced periodically for smoother service.Anti-tram sentiment began about 1955, and spread around the world. Many countries (both developed and developing) began closing their tram systems, and India was no exception. Tram service closed in Kanpur in 1933, Chennai in 1955, Delhi in 1962 and Mumbai in 1964. Kolkata's network survived, but in a truncated form. At the same time the automobile boom began, quickly spreading throughout India.
Many streets were narrow (which was acceptable for tram service), but now cars, buses and lorries also used those roads. The government considered closing the trams, as an alternative to controlling motor traffic. Some routes (Bandhaghat, Shibpur
Shibpur
Shibpur is a residential area located in the city of Howrah, West Bengal, India. It is well known for being the location of the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, the Bengal Engineering College and the Hazar Hath Kaali Temple. The famous Bengali linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterji...
and Nimtala) were closed for that reason, although traffic jams have not been alleviated. Many streets in Kolkata which have no tram line experience daily gridlock
Gridlock
The term gridlock is defined as "A state of severe road congestion arising when continuous queues of vehicles block an entire network of intersecting streets, bringing traffic in all directions to a complete standstill; a traffic jam of this kind." The term originates from a situation possible in...
.
Although most track beds have been converted from stone to concrete, earlier paving of Strand Road closed the High Court route. Construction of the subway line also destroyed an important north-south connection, from Lalbazar to Jatin Das Park via Esplanade and Birla Planetarium
Birla Planetarium, Kolkata
The Birla Planetarium in Kolkata is a single-storeyed circular structure designed in the typical Indian style, whose architecture is loosely styled on the Buddhist stupa at Sarnath. Situated at Chowringhee Road adjacent to the Victoria Memorial, St Paul's Cathedral, and the maidan in south Kolkata,...
. The development of overpasses is another reason for the decline of Kolkata trams. The Sealdah, Gariahat and Taratala overpasses were the main cause for the closing of the Sealdah
Sealdah
Sealdah is one of the major train stations serving Kolkata in India, the others being Howrah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata Railway Station. Sealdah is one of the busiest rail stations in India and an important suburban rail terminal...
terminus, Gahriahat link and the Joka
Joka
Joka may refer to:* Joka, a character in Klonoa: Door to Phantomile*Joka, Kolkata, a locality in South West Kolkata, India, the home of IIM Calcutta and DesiGuru*Tilapia joka, species of aquarium fish...
route (which also made way for a national highway). There were many closures between 1970 and 1980, and many thought that it was the beginning of the end for trams in Kolkata, but the situation changed after 1990. At that time, many cities around the world began reevaluating tram service. Greater numbers of automobiles increased air pollution. High prices of petrol and diesel fuel on the international market also made electric-powered street rail more attractive.
Trams have many advantages:
- Clean and green – enhances the environment; no emissions at street level
- Safe – less prone to accidents
- Speedy – short trip times
- Avoid traffic congestion – through segregation and priority of routes
- Smooth and comfortable
- Pedestrian-friendly
- Civilizing – a city transported by trams is a less lonely place
- Acceptable and accepted – only rail-borne modes of transport can actually get people out of cars
- Reassuring – tram lines give confidence in accessibility
- High capacity – only metro systems have higher carrying capacity
- Affordable – the cheapest form of comfortable mass transit
- Versatile – can run at high speeds on rights-of-way way and can reach inner-city historic centers
- Adaptable – can cope with steep grades and tight curves
- Inspiring – modern trams can be aesthetically pleasing
- Heritage – Tramcars are a part of history.
Some political leaders (and many environmentalists) favored tram service. As a result the Kolkata tram survived, but not as robustly as it did before 1970. Tramways in Kolkata are now suffering, due to motor traffic and the outdated business model of its operators (the CTC and the government of West Bengal
Government of West Bengal
The Government of West Bengal also known as the State Government of West Bengal, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of West Bengal and its 19 districts...
), although there has been some conversion of trackbed from stone to concrete and renovation of rolling stock.
Trams were the brainchild of the then-Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. His motives were to ensure better public transport for the native people, better passage of goods from ports and dockyards to their respective destinations, and rapid mobilisation of police
Kolkata Police
The Kolkata Police Force is one of the two police forces of the Indian state of West Bengal....
contingents to sites of anti-British protests. Thus, trams were the first mode of police transportation in Kolkata since police cars, vans, buses, lorries and armoured cars
Armored car (valuables)
A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...
were not been introduced until 1917.
The trams of Kolkata had played a major role in stopping Hindu-Muslim riots during the pre-independence era; in contrast, many trams were also burned by local people as an act of protest against colonial rule, since the tram was viewed by many Indians as a "British" import. Even after independence, during the 1960s many trams were burned for raising fares by only one paise (1/100 Rupee).
The Kolkata tramway has many vintage features. It still uses a trolley pole and foot gong (after a failed experiment with electric horn during the late 1980s), which is rare among international tram systems (except heritage tramways and standard networks like Hong Kong and Toronto). It has tram cars with no front glass or destination board – instead, iron route-boards hang from the front iron net. The last new rolling stock was manufactured in 1987 by Jessop India Ltd, and many trams from 1939 are still running. The recent de-reservation of tram tracks flies in the face of international trends. Although trams are faster, and derailments rare, it is often impossible to get up or down from a moving tram on wide roads such as Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Road, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu Road, Acharya Satyendra Nath Basu Sarani, Satin Sen Sarani, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Lila Roy Sarani, Rash Behari Avenue, Deshapran Birendra Shasmal Road or Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhyay Road. Only one new branch (Bidhannagar) and one extension (the short-lived Joka) were built after independence, and no extension of the network is planned. With a mix of good and bad, however, the Kolkata tram is still running as Asia's oldest operating electric tram and the only tram in India.
Future
Plans have been proposed to refurbish stock and wires, extend the system to more areas or tunnel under the River HooghlyRiver Hooghly
The Hooghly River or the Bhāgirathi-Hooghly, is an approximately long distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, India. It splits from the Ganges as a canal in Murshidabad District at the Farakka Barrage...
but (apart from paving the trackbed and repairing wires and masts), little real improvement has been done; for unmaterialized future plans, see the "latest Kolkata tram map" above.