THE TRAMJATRA - “150 years of Kolkata’s iconic Tram”

The Tramjatra, a travelling carnival, seeks to educate the younger generation about climate change, air pollution, and sustainable development; it will also call upon the West Bengal government to preserve the historic mode of transport.

Come February, Kolkata will witness an event that will celebrate 150 years of its iconic tram and renew hope that this non-polluting mode of transport does not become entirely extinct.

Tramjatra (tram’s journey) is a moving tram carnival that was started back in 1996 jointly by enthusiasts from Melbourne and Kolkata. At the time, Kolkata, the only Indian city where the tram still runs, was home to about two dozen routes. Today, the number of routes that remain operational has shrunk to just two. The 2023 event, therefore, will be more about impressing the West Bengal government to preserve the tram.

“Tramjatra is essentially an international collaboration of trammies, artists, environmentalists, and tram-loving communities. It will continue for around a week and will seek to educate people, particularly the younger generation, about climate change, air pollution, and sustainable development objectives and Kolkata’s tram legacy”.

“ The theme of the 2023 Tramjatra will be Heritage, Clean Air, and Green Mobility. For the celebrations, which will begin on February 24, we intend to paint three trams. The first would look like one of the historic trams used in the early years. The second would emphasize the dangers posed by climate change and the necessity of sustainability. The third would depict a contemporary tram in a different region. For five days, these trams will travel across the city,”

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