Old trams get new life at Tram World to get people acquainted with Kolkata's culture

Kolkata has the only operational tramway of India The Calcutta Tramway Company was formed and registered in London on 22 December 1880 This December marks 140 years of the CTC On the 140th anniversary of CTC the city of joy is getting a perfect giftCommemorating this historic timeline Kolkata is all set to get a permanent gift for tram lovers The city is all set to get a ldquoTRAM WORLDrdquo The Tram World Kolkata TWK would be one stop place for tram lovers The tram world is coming up in the Gariahat Tram Depot near the BallygungePhariThe TWK has been conceptualised by West Bengal Transport Corporation that runs the Kolkata tramways ldquoThe Tram World Kolkata will be a unique gift for tram loversrdquo saidRachhpal Singh Chairman WBTCldquoThe idea behind Tram World Kolkata is two folds Old trams that would have been forgotten have been transformed into a new life Also people can visit the TWK and immerse into art tram love music etc The idea is to attract youth to Kolkatarsquos culturerdquo said Rajanvir Singh Kapur MD WBTC The TWK is being positioned not as a museum but a place where all can visit to get into tram nostalgia and also to have a good time ldquoThe TWK would not be a museum It is much more It is a place where one can come and spend some quality time There would be art music food a place for adda and tram loverdquo saidRajanvir Singh Kapur MD WBTCThe Tram World converts old trams that would have headed to scrapyard into a permanent area where tram lovers and connoisseurs can visit and spend some quality time The TWK has taken up old tram bogeys as old as built in 1938 and they have been made into zones of art music photos museum food etcSwarnakamalSaha Vice Chairman WBTC said ldquoWBTC is taking up new initiatives to serve the people and also preserve the culture of the cityrdquoThe TWK will also have a special section for vintage cars The vintage cars have been curated by Classic Drivers Club KolkataldquoTram World will be another jewel in Kolkatarsquos worldclass cultural heritage I congratulate West Bengal Transport Corporation Calcutta Tramways Company in preserving this precious patrimony for future generationsrdquo said Nick Low British Deputy High CommissionerFor years the Kolkata tramways have been the flag bearer of sustainable public transportation in the country The Kolkata Tram World KTW will showcase the cultural heritage of tramways from across the globe to create awareness about their role in providing affordable and clean public mobility in todays world and the importance of preserving their legacy ldquosaid Dr AjayMathur Director General TERIOn behalf of Techno India Group ampEcole Intuit Lab we are thankful to the Government of West Bengal and the WBTC team of Tram World Kolkata for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the massive Kolkata Tram Project This one of a kind initiative celebrates the history of Bengal Tram and furnishes the scope to assist in the financing of the preservation of old trams said MeghdutRoyChowdhury head of Kolkata Ecole de inuit LabWATTRAIN The World Alliance of Tourist Trams and Trains since being founded in 2010 has been at the forefront in promoting the interests of the owners and operators of tourist trams and trains worldwide Kolkata Tram World is a modern approach for the 21st Century to display the engineering of the 19th Century which hopefully will attract the youth of today It will also bring to peoplersquos attention how ecofriendly trams are and certainly the way to go for the transport of the future This will also serve as a fantastic resource for visitors to Kolkata showing how the tram has developed over time and then sadly diminished only to be reborn as the 21st Centuryrsquos mode of travel in line with most major cities in the worldrdquo said Andrew Gill Director WATTRAIN LtdAs an expert on Industrial heritage having authored all Industrial World Heritage Sites of India beginning with the Darjeeling Himalayan railway DHR Irsquom proud that at last the creation of a Tram World in Kolkata is opening to cherish the great living legacy of Kolkata coinciding with 140 years of coming of CTC Gradually this should evolve with associated Tramcars Machines Heritageroutes Archives Artefacts Arts Culture Folklore etc After all Kolkata has amongst the most remarkable tangible and intangible heritage of trams said Rajesh Agarwal former member of Railway Board and UNESCO fulltime industrial heritage expertldquoIndian cities are in an utmost need of augmentation of public transport systems With continued pressure to reduce congestion tackle air quality in cities and reduce greenhouse gas emission contributing to climate change Tramways are clean silent and spaceefficient systems that drive the economic progress of our cities sustainably UITP India works towards advancing public transportation in the country through advocacy research amp networking and wishes success and growth to Kolkata Tramways World KTW in advancing public transportationrdquo a message from UITPINDIA statedI am so happy there is the new Tram World KolkataTWK Thanks to West Bengal Transport Corporation to be willing and able to teach and show the importance to keep the trams running on Kolkatalsquos streets To know the past is important to know how to model the future for an ecofriendly transport system Keep the Kolkata trams running make them shine Trams are the future The tracks are there the trams are there the depots are there the great workshop Nonapukur is there plenty of opportunities for the current management together with the city to move ahead in a new direction I canrsquot wait to revisit Kolkata to experience Kolkata Tram World myself amp wish for great success Lars F Richter VerbandDeutscherVerkehrsAmateureeV wwwvdvadeThe concept of creating a Tram World as a place to learn about trams and like systems all over the world through exhibits books talks videos and models would be a great addition to the CityAsit N Sengupta entrepreneur life member of American institute of Certified PlannersTraveling by tram in Kolkata was part of my life for many decades and an experience my family and I always enjoyed I am delighted to hear of the Kolkata Tram World project that is a unique initiative and wonderfully creative I look forward to discovering the city again through the world of trams Dr Shanti Pappu Sharma Centre for Heritage Education IndiaI am so happy there is the new Tram World TWK Thanks to West Bengal Transport Corporation to be willing and able to teach and show the importance to keep the trams running on Kolkatalsquos streets To know the past is important to know how to model the future for an ecofriendly transport system Keep the Kolkata trams running make them shine Falko E Ritter Berlin tram enthusiast since childhood working for the Berlin Transport Authority BVGIn a country where history and heritage are not given the importance they should get it is refreshing to see that an initiative Kolkata Tram World is being set up to combine art history and heritage with the objective of attracting youth to this very ecofriendly form of transportation the tram As lovers of any form of transportation that moves on rails the Rail Enthusiastsrsquo Society would like to congratulate the Kolkata Tram World and wishes it all the best for succeeding in their venture It is initiatives like these that will inculcate an appreciation for our heritage and also encourage the public to travel by trams Credit should also go to the West Bengal Transport Corporation Kolkata for encouraging such a venture J L Singh secretary the Rail Enthusiastsrsquo SocietyIts good to see a dead place has been given a new life to it wish all the support and best wishes to Tram World Kolkata said Dr Smarajit Roy Director SolarWin UK Ltd Wish all the success and keep developing trams of Kolkata just like Tram World Kolkata Jens Bernhardt amp Team Redaktion Urban Transport Magazine Landgrafenstraszlige 30 61348 Bad Homburg vor der HoumlheldquoI wish Tram World a unique initiative by Kolkata Calcutta Tramways to inventorize trams of the world all the success Revival of the tramway would I believe bring back to the city of Kolkata this source of unique charm and character I hope the TWK project in particular helps young minds immerse themselves in the forgotten glory of the Kolkata tram Best of luck Rashi Grover Consultant World Banks transport unit in New DelhiThe Tram World Kolkata will start for public from 23rd of December The winter timings will be from 10 am to 6pm The ticket will be Rs 30 for entry to the TWK People can book the TWK Lawns for parties book fairs and open air events