The state government plans to restart air-conditioned trams in Kolkata and develop new routes as part of a broader drive to modernize the city’s transport network, West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh said on Wednesday.
He said the new tram lines will include New Town near the city and may connect the two famous Kali temples at Dakshineswar and Kalighat, on either side of Kolkata.
Speaking at an interactive session organized by the Traders’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Singh said the government had tasked RITES to survey the expansion of the tram network.
According to the West Bengal Transport Corporation website, the tram system was introduced in Kolkata in 1873 when the carriage was horse-drawn. Air-conditioned trams appeared on the streets in 2013, but were later discontinued. At present, trams operate on very limited routes.
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The Minister also announced that the state will add new air-conditioned buses, powered by electricity and compressed natural gas, to the existing fleet and will create a comprehensive charging infrastructure for electric buses.
Singh said the government is also exploring the development of transportation through inland waterways and a port along the Ganges to enhance the transportation ecosystem in the state.
Stressing the need for a business-friendly environment, he said the country aims to improve logistics and transportation services to support industrial growth.
“There is a need to improve logistics and transportation in the state,” Singh said in a statement.
He assured investors of the speed of decision-making, and said that he would not allow files to remain pending in government departments, and the political leadership would ensure speedy decision-making.
MCCI Council of Logistics, Transport and Shipping Chairman Lavish Poddar urged the government to prepare a comprehensive logistics master plan for West Bengal on the Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam routes.
He also asked the minister to develop integrated multi-modal logistics centers at locations like Balagarh, Dankuni, Kharagpur, Siliguri, Malda and Bongaon across the state.
