Trams May Be Phased Out From Congested Areas In Kolkata

Bengal government is not in favour of running trams on narrow stretches intersecting busy roads in Kolkata as it could lead to traffic jams, said a state minister.

West Bengal transport minister Firhad Hakim told the Assembly on Thursday that the state government was mulling over a proposal to phase out trams from the congested routes in Kolkata, thus retaining the electricity-propelled public vehicle only for the wider stretches of the city.

Replying to a question in the Assembly, he said the government is in favour of running the environment friendly streetcar along routes such as Khidderpore-Esplanade, but not on the narrow stretches intersecting busy roads such as Rabindra Sarani, as it could lead to traffic jams.

"In parts where the tram line runs through the middle of a thoroughfare, we have no other option but to phase it out, and probably replace it with new trolley buses which will draw power from the overhead electric wires," Mr Hakim explained.

He later told reporters that one such trolley bus was being sourced from Europe for trial run.