The city’s iconic transport system is expected to have fewer routes only. The state transport department is considering plans to introduce trolley buses
In a latest announcement which might not be pleasing to many of the tram lovers of Kolkata, the city’s iconic transport system is expected to have fewer routes only. The state transport department is considering plans to introduce trolley buses that will be run with the help of the overhead cables lines presently used to operate trams.
The state transport minister Firhad Hakim informed the Assembly yesterday about the state government considering plans to limit the trams only for the wider stretches of Kolkata and restrict its operations along narrow roads. Replying to a question in the Assembly by member mayor in council for parks and gardens, sports, advertisement, parking and hawkers’ rehabilitation schemes, Debasish Kumar, the minister said, “In stretches where the tram line runs through the middle of a busy part, we have no other option but to phase it out, and probably replace it with new trolley buses which will draw power from the overhead electric wires.”
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Mr Hakim who is also the state minister for urban development and municipal affairs and housing department further informed that the one trolley bus was being sourced from Poland and will be run on an experimental basis.
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The city’s tram lovers are, however, not happy with the idea. “When several countries, including those who are economically poorer, are putting efforts to revive or introduce trams, in Kolkata where the infrastructure already exists and there is minimum investment required, the iconic transport system is being planned to be phased out,” said Debasish Bhattacharyya , president of Calcutta Tram Users Association. “The revival of trams in different parts of the world is because these are not only environment-friendly but also economically viable. The electric buses are costly and have shorter life while trams can be used for 60-70 years. Also, trams creating congestion is unlikely as it keeps moving and there is no parking system required,” he added.
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