This year people of Kolkata will have a new transportation option to roam around the city for pandal hopping. The Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), the operator of Asia’s oldest functional tram services, has decided to run two “tourist trams” in the city during four days of Durga Puja festival starting tomorrow.
The two trams namely - “Balaka” and “Banalata” - will cover all the big Pujas in city during their five-hour long journey.
“This is one of the various steps we are taking to revive popularity of the tram services. These will be well-decorated trams. One will start from Gariahat and another one will be from Rajabazar,” a spokeperson in CTC said. The fare for this “Puja tour in Kolkata” will Rs 50 for each commuter.
The state transport and tourism departments has also put together a plan to introduce “cafeteria trams” in Kolkata by converting four trams into moving hotels. “The cafeteria tram will come in a few months,” the official said.
CTC has also initiated various other steps to generate revenues. There also are plans to introduce AC buses and turn under-utilised tram depots at the city’s prime locations into parking lots.
