Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was a state-run company that operated trams and buses in and around Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) in West Bengal, India. The Kolkata tram is the only operating tramway in India and the oldest electric tram in India, operating since 1902.
Life-size model of a horse-drawn tram at the City Centre arcade
The first horse-drawn trams in India ran for 2.4 miles (3.9km) between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February 1873. The service was discontinued on 20 November of that year. The Calcutta Tramway Company was formed and registered in London on 22 December 1880. Metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November 1880. In 1882, steam locomotives were deployed experimentally to haul tram cars.
A tram in 1945
In 1900, the electrification of the tramway and conversion of its tracks to 4ft8+1⁄2in (1,435mm) (standard gauge) began. The first electric tramcar in Calcutta ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27 March 1902. In February 1943, the Calcutta and Howrah sections were connected by the new Howrah Bridge.
In 1951, the government of West Bengal entered an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted. The government assumed the tramways, reserving the right to purchase the system with two years' notice on 1 January 1972 or at any time thereafter. In 1967, the Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July. On 8 November 1976, the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated under which the company (and its assets) was nationalised.
The Tramways system had degraded by the 1990s, and Minister for Transport Shyamal Chakraborty planned to close the network. In the meantime, Calcutta Tramways Company introduced bus service on 4 November 1992 with a fleet of 40 buses. However, Melbourne tram conductor Roberto D'Andrea befriended fellow Calcutta conductors during a 1994 visit. When D'Andrea heard about the planned closure of tram network, he suggested an art project to decorate the trams (as was done in his home city). The project increased public awareness of the tram network and its value, ultimately saving it.
The Calcutta Tramways Company Ltd operates the Kolkata tram, currently the oldest electric tramway in Asia and India's only existent tram system, since 1873.
Buses
With over 45 routes throughout Kolkata and its surrounding areas, CTC buses complement its tram service. The initial bus service was introduced from Rajabazar with a fleet of 40 buses, augmented in 1993 with service from Kidderpore depot. The Tollygunge and Belgachia depots were added in 1994 and 1995, respectively. In 2005 the CTC began bus service from Ghasbagan depot at Howrah.
Depots, terminals and workshops
There are seven tram depots: Belgachia, Rajabazar, Park Circus, Gariahat, Tollygunge, Kalighat and Kidderpore. Rajabazar and Tollygunge depots are the largest in terms of tracks and area, respectively. and Kalighat tram depot is the oldest and smallest. There were tram depot at Joka and Ghasbagan, Howrah. Now a Bus Depot. There are also CTC bus depots in Barasat, Habra and Titagarh.
ACT4Barasat – Salt LakeKarunamoyee via Champadali, Madhyamgram Chowmatha, Birati More, Airport Gate 1, Chinar Park, Eco Park, Narkelbagan, New Town, College More
ACT21Kolkata West International City – Ecospace via Salap, Lalbari, Santragachi, Belepole, Rabindra Sadan, Minto Park, Park Circus, 4 No. Bridge, Topsia, Science City, Chingrighata, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Unitech Gate 2, TCS Geetanjali Park
ACT23Dankuni Housing – Park Circus via Rajchanrapur, Bally Halt, Dakshineshwar, Dunlop, Mathkal, Durganagar, Airport Gate 3, Airport Gate 1, Chinar Park, Akansha, Eco Park, Narkelbagan, New Town, Technopolis, College More, SDF, Chingrighata, Science City, Topsia, 4 No. Bridge
ACT23AAirport Gate 1 – Park Circus via Chinar Park, Akansha, Eco Park, Narkelbagan, New Town, Technopolis, College More, SDF, Chingrighata, Science City, Topsia, 4 No. Bridge
ACT26Howrah Station – Baruipur via Barabazar, Esplanade, Moulali, CIT Road, Chittaranjan Hospital, 4 No. Bridge, Topsia, Science City, Ruby Hospital, Kalikapur, Ajoynagar, Hiland Park, Patuli, Dhalai Bridge, Kamalgazi, Narendrapur, Rajpur, Harinavi, Gobindapur, Padmapukur, Shibanipith, Rabindra Bhawan, Puratan Bazar, Phooltala Bus Terminal
ACT26AHowrah Station – Kamalgazi via Barabazar, Esplanade, Moulali, CIT Road, Chittaranjan Hospital, 4 No. Bridge, Topsia, Science City, Ruby Hospital, Kalikapur, Ajoynagar, Hiland Park, Patuli, Dhalai Bridge
ACT32Howrah Station – Barrackpore Court via Barabazar, M.G. Road, Central Avenue, Girish Park, Sovabazar, Shyambazar, Sinthee More, Dunlop, Rathtala, Kamarhati, Sodepur Traffic More, Balaram Hospital, Khardah, Tata Gate, Titagarh Bazar, Talpukur Bazar, Barrackpore Chiria More, Barrackpore Cantonment, Dhobi Ghat
ACT33Baruipur – Salt Lake / Ecospace via Phooltala Bus Terminal, Puratan Bazar, Rabindra Bhawan, Shibanipith, Padmapukur, Gobindapur, Harinavi, Rajpur, Narendrapur, Kamalgazi, Dhalai Bridge, Patuli, Hiland Park, Ajoynagar, Kalikapur, Ruby Hospital, Science City, Chingrighata, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Unitech Gate 2, TCS Geetanjali Park
ACT33AKamalgazi – Salt Lake / Ecospace via Dhalai Bridge, Patuli, Hiland Park, Ajoynagar, Kalikapur, Ruby Hospital, Science City, Chingrighata, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Unitech Gate 2, TCS Geetanjali Park
ACT34Tollygunge – Barrackpore Lalkuthi via Rashbehari, Hazra, Rabindra Sadan, Esplanade, Central Avenue, Girish Park, Sovabazar, Shyambazar, Sinthee More, Dunlop, Rathtala, Kamarhati, Sodepur Traffic More, Balaram Hospital, Khardah, Tata Gate, Titagarh Bazar, Talpukur Bazar, Barrackpore Chiria More, Barrackpore Station
ACT35Barasat – Joka via Champadali, Madhyamgram Chowmatha, Birati More, Airport Gate 1, Chinar Park, Eco Park, Narkelbagan, New Town, College More, SDF, Chingrighata, Science City, Ruby Hospital, Bosepukur, Ballygunge Station, Gariahat, Rashbehari, New Alipore, Taratala, Behala, Sakherbazar, Sealpara, Thakurpukur
ACT36Belgachia – Ecospace via R.G. Kar Hospital, Shyambazar, Khanna, Ultadanga, City Centre, Bikash Bhawan, Karunamoyee, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Tata Medical Centre, TCS Geetanjali Park
D27AJadavpur – Habra via Santoshpur, Ajoynagar, Kalikapur, Ruby Hospital, Science City, Chingrighata, Nicco Park, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Eco Park, Akansha, Chinar Park, Airport Gate 1, Birati More, B.T. College, Madhyamgram Chowmatha, Dakbungalow More, Barasat Champadali, Duttapukur, Bira Chowmatha, Guma Chowmatha, Ashoknagar 8 No. Kalibari
D27EJadavpur – Ecospace via Santoshpur, Ajoynagar, Kalikapur, Ruby Hospital, Science City, Chingrighata, Nicco Park, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Unitech Gate 2, TCS Geetanjali Park
D36Belgachia – Ecospace via R.G. Kar Hospital, Shyambazar, Khanna, Ultadanga, City Centre, Bikash Bhawan, Karunamoyee, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Tata Medical Centre, TCS Geetanjali Park
D40EKudghat – Ecospace via Tollygunge Tram Depot, Rashbehari, Deshapriya Park, Gariahat, Ballygunge Station, Bosepukur, Ruby Hospital, Science City, Chingrighata, Nicco Park, College More, Technopolis, New Town, Narkelbagan, Unitech Gate 2, TCS Geetanjali Park
E6AHowrah Station – Amta via Barabazar, Esplanade, P.G. Hospital, Vidyasagar Setu, Santragachi, Ankurhati, Jalan Complex, Alampur, Dhulagarh, Ranihati, Gabberia, Manikpir, 10 No. Pole, Chakhna, Kalatala
Niyogi, S. Shake, rattle & roll. The Sunday Story, Sunday Times of India, Kolkata, 25 June 2006. Available on Times of India e-paper (paid subscription required as of 2010).
Pathak Pratap Shankar, The Sunday Story, Sunday Times of India, Kolkata.
