Kolkata|29th December 2025:
Kolkata’s Historic Tram Network, A symbol of the city’s colonial-era heritage and the oldest operating tram system in Asia, is facing an uncertain future as the West Bengal government moves ahead with plans to modernise urban transport. Authorities have indicated that most tram services may be discontinued, with only a short heritage stretch likely to be retained.
Introduced in 1873 as horse-drawn trams and electrified in 1902, the tramways once formed the backbone of Kolkata’s public transport. At their peak, trams ran across large parts of the city with hundreds of cars in operation. Over the decades, however, expanding road traffic, shrinking tracks, and the rise of faster transport options such as buses & the metro have steadily reduced their relevance.
According to officials, trams now struggle to operate efficiently in congested city streets, often causing traffic bottlenecks & delays. The government argues that maintaining the ageing infrastructure is costly and impractical in a rapidly modernising metropolis. As part of a broader transport overhaul, the focus has shifted to metro expansion, road widening & newer mobility solutions.
Currently, only a handful of tram routes remain functional, operating with limited frequency & declining passenger numbers. The proposed plan would shut down most of these services, while preserving a small section as a heritage or tourist attraction, reflecting the city’s historic connection with trams.
The move has triggered strong reactions from citizens, transport experts & heritage activists, who view trams as an environmentally friendly and culturally significant mode of transport. Several groups have argued that instead of scrapping them, the tram system should be modernised and integrated with existing public transport networks. Legal challenges have also been initiated by tram users’ associations seeking to halt the shutdown.
As the debate continues, the future of Kolkata’s trams now rests on policy decisions and court proceedings. For many residents, the possible disappearance of trams marks not just the end of a transport service, but the fading of a living symbol of the city’s identity and history.
