TRAMWAYS – AN ECO – FRIENDLY MODE OF MASS TRANSPORTATION: A CASE OF KOLKATA
Keywords:
Tramcars, transit system, pollution-free mode, retention, revival, passenger load, travel demandAbstract
The principal function of any transit system is to carry passengers efficiently and in large numbers. Tramcars stand out in comparison to other vehicular modes within the transport system of Kolkata for its uniqueness. This cheap, electrically operated pollution-free mode, having a high carrying capacity is the most viable option for crowded cities like Kolkata. Slow though it may be, it ensures a safe journey through the madding crowd. Populated cities of the world are reviving the Tramways system since it runs on electricity and has a high carrying capacity. However the situation in Kolkata is quite different. There is a constant rise in passenger demand but the proportion met by tramways system has been decreasing over the years, particularly because of the strong competition it has to face with buses. Undoubtedly thus the Calcutta Tramways Company has been running at a loss for quite some time. Experts therefore are considering to do away with tramcars from the transport system of Kolkata. But it is to be noted that replacing trams would not only be costly but also environmentally harmful. CTC has a long history of running tramcars and is believed to posses the experience that is required to run such a transit system in the city. The present paper is an attempt to look into the position of tramways as a means of mass transportation within the transport scenario of Kolkata and to assess the issues and concerns of retaining tramcars in the city instead of removing them.
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References
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