Overview
- The West Bengal government proposes shutting down regular tram operations and keeping a short heritage stretch.
- Residents and heritage advocates, including the Calcutta Tram Users Association, have taken the plan to court and a review is pending.
- Only two routes remain in service with about 10 vehicles, operating from the last functioning depot in Gariahat.
- The system began with horse-drawn trams in 1873, was electrified in 1902, and once ran more than 340 cars across the city.
- Officials are prioritising metro expansion, wider roads and new highways to ease congestion as trams struggle for road space with buses and taxis.