Tram cheaper,consider its return: Centre

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi had also mooted a plan to re-introduce trams in Chandini Chowk. “As late as 1963,trams were an important mode of public transport in Chandni Chowk. The trams are an eco-friendly mode of transport and are extremely cheap. For instance in Kolkata,you can use the trams by paying as little as Rs 2,” said a source.

“We have asked all states to have a fresh look at trams as a mode of transport. The Institute of Urban Transport has carried out a preliminary study of the Kolkata tram and has found that trams continue to provide useful service to people. While trams have suffered due to a variety of reasons such as lack of upgradation and curtailing of routes due to introduction of Metro services,they can be used as feeder services to Metro or can be introduced along BRT corridors,” said Urban Development secretary Sudhir Krishna.

The trams in Kolkata,run by the Calcutta Tram Company,were introduced in 1902. “The matter of reviving and improving the tram system in Kolkata was also discussed,” said a ministry official.

The ministry has now asked all states to carry out individual studies to assess the viability of introducing trams in metropolitan cities. “Trams are a low-cost mode of transport. Since they operate at grade level,they can help connect more areas and enter more parts of a city,’’ said Krishna. The Ministry of Urban Development had held a meeting to discuss this matter with Delhi government’s Transport department. “The matter is likely to be discussed in more detail in the coming weeks,” said a ministry official.

Trams used to operate in Mumbai,Delhi,Patna,Kanpur,Nasik and Chennai. The ministry had asked the institute to carry out a study on the Kolkata tram.