Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.) : In a major push to modernise Kolkata's iconic tram network, the West Bengal Transport Department is planning to introduce battery-operated trams while working towards reviving 70 tram routes that were once operational across the city.

West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh said the department is exploring the replacement of the ageing tram fleet with a more advanced, efficient, and safer transport system.

Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the minister said RITES has been entrusted with conducting a comprehensive survey of the tram network and has been asked to submit its report within 30 days.

Efforts are being made to introduce battery-operated trams similar to those operating in several foreign countries. Unlike the existing electric trams that rely on overhead power lines, battery-powered trams are expected to reduce the risk of accidents and improve operational efficiency, Singh said.

The minister added that the government is committed to restoring all 70 tram routes that were operational in the past as part of its broader plan to revive Kolkata's heritage transport system.

However, he acknowledged that encroachments on roads and footpaths remain a major challenge in restoring the network. To overcome these obstacles, the Transport Department is considering operating trams along the sides of roads instead of the traditional tracks laid in the middle of carriageways.

The proposed modernisation is aimed at preserving Kolkata's historic tram system while making it safer, more sustainable, and better suited to the city's evolving urban transport needs.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh