Introduction:

Kolkata, one of the country's thickly populated cities, is now all set to bid adieu to its once pride street drive vehicle, tram, from the operation, attracting mixed reactions amongst commuters and city dwellers.

Arguments of different groups:

One group favours the decision of the West Bengal Government to trundle down the tram from Kolkata's road for the reason:

1. Of slow movement and not suitable in a present fast-paced world,
2. Blocking a huge space causing hindering the movement of other moving vehicles,
3. Snarl movement of tram makes traffic congestion,
4. Shrinkage of roads thus utilisation of space is reduced,
5. The track maintenance causes damage to the metalled road and concrete roads, needs extra money to repair,
6. And the overhead power line when snapped due to any breakdown or climactic disturbances then there may be the possibility of electrocution.

The other group does not agree to any of the points mentioned and they put their fingers on the indisciplined Kolkata people's behaviour.

Their arguments are:

1. The Kolkata people cannot use pavement for walking because, with the blessing of the Political Party and a section of corrupt administrators, the footpaths have been occupied by the street hawkers, who set up their stalls and doing business in an illegal way. For this, people in large numbers, thronged onto the road, preventing the free movement of vehicles, causing congestion,
2. The vendors with their vegetables, fruits and with even fish, egg, toys and with other articles do their business without any fear, on the both sides of the road and thus encroach 25 percent to 40 percent of an area which puts the bus, taxi and other vehicles' driver to move in ginger speed,
3. They further pointed out that not only the small business people but also the big shops even many Nursing Homes and Diagnostic Centres are also keeping their employees' vehicles, ambulances and even doctors' cars illegally on the road with the tacit understanding of powerful corrupt authority, thus, reducing the free area for traffic movement,
4. And many parts of the roads in the city are being occupied by some goons who openly make their personal Car Parking Business which the blind eyes of police and municipality officials refuse to look at.

So, trams are not the only cause of traffic congestion.

This group further goes on to say that Kolkata is an old unplanned city. Here, to control traffic in a systematic way, the administrator has to be tough and organised which due to the unhealthy nexus between the political party and the beneficiary, the administrator remained silent and people suffered.

New Kolkata:

Now, the authority has taken up an ambitious plan to construct and develop New Kolkata in a way that will make life easier. Multilane-wide roads like the Eastern Metropolitan By-Pass have been made for a stretch of more than some hundred kilometres. Adequate signals and traffic monitoring systems were introduced, and even the commuters have to face the traffic jam at all hours. Here, there is no provision for the tram to ply. People do not walk down the road like in Old Kolkata. But, still, congestion is a regular feature. This is because a number of vehicles has increased many fold which the present-day planners also could not visualise. This reflects that the tram is not the only responsible for snarling traffic but the paucity of roads and proper planning are the cause of such congestion.

Old Kolkata:

The old Kolkata is divided into two sectors, as North Kolkata and South Kolkata. North Kolkata, in earlier days, was more populous than South, so, the old houses were built just adjacent road. The roads are narrow. No scope for widening. These narrow roads were sufficient at that time but now become crowded. South Kolkata started developing at a much later day. Here, in many areas, roads are relatively wider but a dedicated portion for tram was not given in most parts of the road. Only in patches, the roads are made exclusively for the tram to move and there tram can move freely.

Government's Decision:

It looks strange to see the logic the West Bengal Government put forth for winding up the operation. It suggested that

1. Because of the slow speed, the tram could not pull the crowd, became sick and invited its own death.

General Opinion:

Though this argument is true but cannot be agreed in full because nowadays with the advent of technological revolution and evolution, the speed of any vehicle can be addressed at any level and this tram also can be designed to a much desired speed. So, very easily this transport can be made a fast-moving transport system.

As it is pollution-free, and does not emit any greenhouse gas, so, it is a blessing to control its carbon footprint and may have a positive contribution to controlling global warming and also can help the government of India to fulfil its commitment to the International Body.

It is learnt that many countries in the world including Japan, Australia, and China are trying to popularise this transport with modification and modernisation. China, as reports available, is trying for track less tram in its populous city. If they all are giving try then why Bengal Government is allergic to it when in 2015, this government promised before the Hon'ble High Court, Kolkata, to revive this transport to a popular mode of transport with profitability?

If the speed can be increased then obviously it will be able to pull a crowd and can make a very profitable business, why Kolkata is not showing interest in retrofitting?

Why is this 151-year-old tram now counting days before going to oblivion?

The government further suggested that only one tram with decoration would ply through the city as a heritage symbol.

E Vehicle:

The idea floated by the government is that a number of battery-operated vehicles will be put on roads and these vehicles apart from giving support to public transport will also help to reduce pollution. But for these vehicles to be made in service the government needs,

1. To invest a huge amount to purchase an e-bus,
2. To set up infrastructure for charging batteries,
3. To develop areas for disposing of the used battery,
4. To develop vendors for carrying those used electrical components,
5. And recurring maintenance costs.

On the contrary, once the infrastructure is made for high-speed trams then recurring costs will be very minimal because it does not require any charging system or regular disposal of electrical items.

If like China, trackless trams possible then track maintenance costs also will be reduced.

Metalled Road and Concrete Road will not be damaged and thus road repair costs will be very minimal.

Conclusion:

The projection of the tram as a relic or benign heritage is very painful rather this mode of transport for its eco-friendly aesthetic value should be reinvented and be made popular with great profit. 

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