The Calcutta Tram Users Association is operating a decorated tram service in Kolkata to promote climate action and sustainable transport options.
This initiative seeks to revive the city's historic tram system after years of neglect. By showcasing trams as an eco-friendly alternative to combustion engines, advocates aim to influence urban planning toward greener public transit.
The special service was organized to coincide with World Environment Day on June 5, 2024 [1]. The decorated tram is scheduled to run on a route from Gariahat to Shyambazar [2].
The Calcutta Tram Users Association, a citizen's body, is leading the effort to highlight how modernizing the tram network could reduce the city's carbon footprint [1]. The group is using the event to raise awareness about climate action, and the necessity of sustainable living in dense urban environments [2].
Kolkata remains one of the few cities in India that maintains a tram network, though the system has faced significant decline. The association believes that reviving these services is not merely a matter of nostalgia; it is a strategic step toward reducing urban pollution.
By integrating decorated visuals and a specific route, the organizers hope to draw public attention to the viability of rail-based street transport. The event serves as a public demonstration of how existing infrastructure can be repurposed to meet modern environmental standards [1].
“The special service was organized to coincide with World Environment Day on June 5, 2024.”
The push by the Calcutta Tram Users Association reflects a broader global trend of returning to electrified rail transit to combat urban smog. By linking the revival of a legacy system to World Environment Day, the group is attempting to shift the narrative of trams from outdated relics to essential tools for climate resilience in India's urban centers.
