While on its way bidding farewell to city, Kolkata trams relive their legacy at Durga puja pandals

A year after the city’s iconic tram service celebrated 150 years of its first run, the trams are currently operational on only three routes. The first trams, drawn by horses, took to the city’s streets on February 24, 1873.

An Iron art work of a team at Hatibagan Sarbojanin Puja pandal . (Express photo by Partha Paul.Kolkata.08.10.24.)

Avenue South of Santoshpur, which is a big puja of South Committee has showcased the tram along with palki (palanquin), taxi, bullock carts and other vehicles. Artist of the puja committee Sumi Majumder said, “We want to show that Devi Durga who once came in palanquins is now coming in modern vehicles”.

Majumder stressed on the need for reviving trams with new look as they run on electricity.

Controversy broke out last month as state Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty stated that “tramways are leading to traffic jams and road accidents. It is also not economically viable. Only the stretch at Maidan, Esplanade, and Khidirpur will remain (operational).”

The minister had said “Roads comprise only 6 per cent of Kolkata’s surface area and with increase in vehicular traffic, we have observed that trams cannot ply the roads along the same routes at the same time as it is leading to congestion.”

A non-government organisation has decked up the tram at Esplanade depot into a Durga puja pandal. (Express Photo)

A non-government organisation has decked up the tram at Esplanade depot into a Durga puja pandal. Based on the theme of old-age homes, the tram is adorned with red and yellow printed sarees, sholas, and has an iron spiral staircase wearing the look of an old zamindar palace.

“Here Maa Durga has an old-fashioned look with a traditional attire. The idols are made by the artists of Kumartuli. Durga Puja’s anjali, prasad distribution and sindoor playing will all take place in the tram. There are various cultural programmes in the evening,” said the organisers.

Doubtful of hosting the puja in the tram after the closure news, Amrita Sinha who is the main organiser expressed happiness over getting permission from the administration to host the event.

Last year too, the NGO used the tram as Durga pandal and events were held on the theme ‘Refugee’.

Another pandal ‘Chetla Sorbosadharoner pujo, Prasannya Ghat’ featured 150 years of tram service in Kolkata and also the slow moving trams. They hung tram models 16 feet high around the puja mandap to show the heritage transport system of Kolkata.

“We just planned to highlight how the slow-paced but steady journey inside trams gave a mental peace of mind. Trams glided along Kolkata roads with no competition for other vehicles. They always offered a peaceful journey,” said Soumyajit Das, the theme artist.

He along with artist Bhashkar Mukhopadhyay decorated the mandap showcasing Bengali culture.