Calcutta Tramways Company
| Company type | Government-operated |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Fate | Integrated into West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) |
| Headquarters | Kolkata , India |
Area served | Kolkata and neighboring regions |
Key people | Shyamal Chakraborty (Transport Minister, 1990s) |
| Products | Tram and bus transportation services |
| Parent | Government of West Bengal (from 1967) |
Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was a government-operated provider of tram and bus transportation services in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal, India. It oversaw the operation of the Kolkata tram network, which is India's sole functioning tram system and the oldest electric tramway since its inception in 1902.
In 2016, CTC was integrated into the WBTC, unifying public transit operations under a single organization.
History
India's initial horse-drawn trams began service on 24 February 1873 between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street but ceased operations on 20 November that year. The Calcutta Tramway Company was established and registered in London on 22 December 1880. Horse-drawn tram lines with metre-gauge tracks were constructed running from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat through Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square, and Strand Road, officially opened by Viceroy Lord Ripon on 1 November 1880. Steam locomotives were trialed for tram hauling in 1882.
Electrification and conversion to (standard gauge) commenced in 1900. The inaugural electric tramcar operated between Esplanade and Kidderpore on 27 March 1902. By February 1943, the tram networks of Calcutta and Howrah were linked via the newly constructed Howrah Bridge.
In 1951, the West Bengal government signed an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company under the Calcutta Tramways Act, securing the option to acquire the system with a two-year notice period starting from 1 January 1972. Management control was assumed by the government in 1967 through the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act, followed by full nationalization of the company and its assets in 1976 via an acquisition ordinance.
By the 1990s, deterioration of the tram infrastructure prompted Transport Minister Shyamal Chakraborty to consider shutting down operations. Concurrently, CTC introduced a bus service in November 1992 with an initial fleet of 40 buses. During a visit in 1994, Melbourne tram conductor Roberto D'Andrea suggested an artistic initiative to decorate trams, which helped increase public interest and contributed to preserving the network.
Trams
The Calcutta Tramways Company Ltd operates Asia’s oldest electric tramway and India’s only remaining tram system since its establishment in 1880.
Buses
CTC runs more than 45 bus routes serving Kolkata and its neighboring regions, supplementing its tram operations. The original bus fleet of 40 vehicles was launched from Rajabazar, followed by expansion with a depot at Kidderpore in 1993. Additional depots at Tollygunge and Belgachia opened in 1994 and 1995 respectively, while Ghasbagan depot at Howrah began operations in 2005.
Depots, terminals and workshops
CTC oversees five tram depots: Rajabazar, Gariahat, Tollygunge, Kalighat, and Khidirpur. Among these, Rajabazar has the most tracks, Tollygunge covers the largest area; Khidirpur is the oldest facility, whereas Kalighat is the smallest. Former tram depots such as Ghasbagan, Belgachia, Park Circus, and Joka have been repurposed into bus depots. Additional bus depots are located at Barasat, Habra, and Titagarh.
There are six tram terminals: Shyambazar, Bidhan Nagar Road, Ballygunge Station, Esplanade (which serves most routes), B.B.D. Bagh (currently closed for renovation), and Howrah Bridge. Several previous tram terminals have either been shut down or converted for bus use.
CTC’s sole workshop is situated at Nonapukur.
Routes
At present, Kolkata is served by two tram lines, with the recent addition of air-conditioned trams further improving the quality of service.
See also
- Trams in India
- Kolkata Metro
- Kolkata Suburban Railway
- Kolkata Circular Railway
- Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
- Calcutta State Transport Corporation
- West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation
- South Bengal State Transport Corporation
- List of tram and light rail transit systems
Notes
- Niyogi, S. Shake, rattle & roll. The Sunday Story, Sunday Times of India, Kolkata, 25 June 2006.
- Pathak Pratap Shankar, The Sunday Story, Sunday Times of India, Kolkata.