Rejuvenating Kolkatas tramway's tramways into an efficient public transit mode

Abstract

A tram in British English which is also known as a streetcar in American English is a public transport vehicle which runs on rails set either onto the road or having a separate right of way by means of electricity and historically by means of horses and steam engines. The world’s first paid tram service was started in England in 1807 which was then introduced in major cities across the globe and rose in importance till its peak in the mid 20th century. Tramways saw a gradual decline since then due to the rise of the automobile industry. Kolkata’s tramways are the oldest operating electric public transport in Asia. The first horse drawn tram ran in Kolkata from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat covering a distance of 3.9 kilometres on February 24th, 1873. In 1902, the first electric tram to run in Asia was between Esplanade and Kidderpore which is still operational. Kolkata is the last remaining city in India operating trams and is considered among one of the most valued assets of the city. The trams have served the city of Kolkata from the era of governor generals and maharajas to the present times, without which the history of Kolkata would remain incomplete. Today, tramways are making a renewed comeback all over the world with 108 new cities introducing tramways in the 21st century primarily for its pollution free service. Kolkata still retains its tramway infrastructure which can be used to revive its service by redesigning and revamping the system. Before the pandemic set in, there were six operational routes with a total track length of 39.37 kilometres but presently there are only three operational routes. The world is going through unprecedented climatic changes in the 21st century which has called for the adoption of environment-friendly solutions. The energy sector in India significantly contributes to global warming through emissions of 142 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually where the transport sector alone accounts for 123 million tonnes of emissions. Keeping these factors in mind, India has pledged to cut its carbon emission by one billion tonnes by 2030, thereby reducing its carbon emission by 45% and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Such commitments focus on to the need for electric mobility with Kolkata’s century old trams providing a viable option in the public transport mode sector. Trams have a higher carrying capacity than buses, have lower operation and maintenance costs which make them a sustainable mode of transport. On the down side, weaknesses plaguing the growth of tramways include congestion on roads, poor network, passenger safety while boarding and alighting and the visual displeasure due to overhead wires. A developed tramway system will enrich urban environment, recreational activity and tourism industry of Kolkata and help in growing interest among citizens to use tramways. The aim of the thesis is to revive Kolkata’s tram network to create an efficient public transit mode while keeping its heritage value intact. The objectives of the study are to identify the reason of tram route closures, to examine the existing conditions and problems of the tram routes and to identify and propose strategies to make tramways an essential component of Kolkata’s public transit system and protect its heritage value. The study is limited to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area and the proposals of the study can be considered as a model for developing and reintroducing tramways in other Indian cities. The study is divided into three parts. First, the topic was identified through detailed literature study and the need of the study was established which led to the formulation of aim, objectives, scope and limitations. Second, a preliminary site study was conducted through reconnaissance survey and stakeholder discussions which led to detailed primary survey through user survey (questionnaires), site observation and photo analysis and secondary survey through WBTC information, press releases, reports and websites. Third, data analysis was done through traffic surveys and calculation of vehicular speeds to understand the traffic flow along tram routes, mapping landuse, road infrastructure and points of interest along tram routes to understand the purpose of usage of tram routes, understanding user perception through graphs, pie charts and stakeholder discussions to capture the imagination of the users. These led to the proposals and strategies which will help rejuvenate tramways on Kolkata roads. The proposals and strategies of the study are expected to increase tram ridership and help operate trams in an orderly manner on the roads by law enforcement agencies. Route specific strategies will be proposed as routes have differing Rejuvenating Kolkata’s Tramways into an efficient public transit mode characteristics and uses. The possibility of pedestrianization of specific route stretches will be looked into to integrate tramways with the character of the route stretch. Possibility of replacing auto-rickshaws with trams on routes where there is congestion will also be looked into. Creation of exclusive right of way for trams and buses, improvements in tram amenities and infrastructure, alternative uses of trams and operation of trams through PPP will also be looked into. With all the major countries aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by the second half of the 21st century, it is essential to reduce dependency on transit modes which run on conventional fuels. Trams run on electricity making them a non polluting mode of transit. With many countries focusing on rejuvenating and opening newer tramways to increase the share of public transport, the city of Kolkata should use its already existing resources on tramways to promote an eco-friendly mode of transit and set standards for other Indian cities to follow.