High Court Urges State Govt To Consider Modernising & Restoring Tram Services In Kolkata Through Public-Private Partnership Model

The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the State to consider the possibility of modernising and restoring the city's tram services on select routes which would have the approval of various authorities, including the police. 

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya suggested the state consider restoring tram services through a public-private partnership model (PPP), to ensure that the tram services were catering not only to regular commuters but were also serving as a tourist attraction. 

On an earlier occasion, the bench had expressed the need for tram services to be restored due to it being part of Calcutta's heritage. On this occasion, after being told that the Kolkata Police had expressed reluctance to allow the resumption of tram services on some routes, it held:

 "One of the stakeholders in the exercise (to restore tram services) is the Kolkata police. However, their view is not the final word. The citizenry of Kolkata has many fond memories of tram services and even youngsters are in favour of restoring the tram services and maintaining the rich heritage. Therefore, a constructive solution needs to be made to restore tram services, for the routes which are possible, and for the long run throughout the city. Ways have to be explored to address the concerns raised without defeating the purpose (of restoration). Court suggests that several private players may be willing to participate in the restoration of these services as is being done by many governments in a PPP model."

The Court also addressed the workings of a committee it had constituted for the restoration of tram services in an earlier hearing and said that the committee would have to ensure that its purpose remains the restoration of tram services in Kolkata. 

It further advised that the work needed to be done with the tram services would be in terms of modernising the tram cars to make them appealing with better lighting and seats, which will not only serve regular commuters but also for entertainment purposes. 

"We adjourn the matter with the fond hope that on the next hearing date, something more fruitful will come from the committee and the government also may look into the suggestion given by the court with regard to the PPP model," it concluded.

Case: Sulagna Mukherjee v State of West Bengal & Ors WPO(P)/12/2022