KOLKATA: The West Bengal Transport Company on Saturday introduced the revival of two tram routes - Kidderpore-Esplanade and Bidhannagar-Rajabazar. They may begin operations earlier than Durga Puja.
Earlier than cyclone Amphan in Might 2020, six routes have been operational within the Kolkata tramway community. After the devastation, the WBTC had managed to revive 5 out of six routes - Tollygunge-Ballygunge, Rajabazar-Howrah Bridge, Gariahat-Esplanade, Esplanade-Shyambazar and Howrah-Shyambazar.

Of those, three have been once more briefly suspended as a consequence of Metro work. WBTC is at the moment working tram companies solely on two routes - Gariahat-Esplanade and Tollygunge-Ballygunge.
State transport minister Firhad Hakim stated the division will convey again tram companies in choose routes in phases based mostly on demand. “We're in favour of reintroducing tram companies within the standard routes,” he stated, including that the tram vehicles have been additionally present process repairs as they haven't been operated for 2 years because of the harm attributable to Amphan.
The 2 routes that WBTC plans to revive instantly have been suspended after the cyclone. “Restore work on these routes is predicted to start out quickly. If work is accomplished by Durga Puja, we'll resume companies,” stated WBTC managing director RVS Kapoor. He was talking at a symposium organised by SwitchON Basis at Bengal Chamber of Commerce.
The Kiddepore-Esplanade route no.36 is from Kidderpore tram depot and Shahid Minar by way of Fancy Market, Watgunge Junction, Hastings, Race Course, Fort William and Pink Highway. It's among the many most iconic tram routes which passes by means of the Maidan. For the reason that tram is probably the most non-polluting technique of transport, it matches with the ethos of the luxurious greens of Maidan.
Bidhannagar-Rajabazar is part of route no. 18 (Bidhannagar-Howrah Bridge) by way of Maniktala.
Tenders for overhead wires, traction poles provide and erection have already been floated. The approximate price concerned could also be about Rs1.3 crore and Rs75 lakh respectively.
Trams started working in Kolkata in 1873 and obtained electrified in 1900. Since 1902, electrical tram vehicles have been plying in Kolkata.
The tram service was suspended in early 2020 when the lockdown was introduced. On account of Amphan, a number of tracks have been broken by timber and the overhead wire system obtained badly broken.
Since then, restoration work has been underway by the WBTC of the Transport Division. The WBTC crew of engineers labored in a single day to revive the tram tracks.
Correct and common disinfection and sanitization of the tram vehicles earlier than and after every shift of operation, and of depots is being undertaken usually..