Trams have been intimately associated with the history and lifestyle of Kolkata and have been portrayed time and again in popular culture. Kolkata is the only Indian City, having an operational tram network. The first Electric tram in Asia ran in Kolkata in 1902, between Esplanade and Kidderpore. In 1873, the first attempt to run a 3.9 km tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street, was made. The services were stopped during the same year due to lack of patrons and remained discontinued for the next seven years. The service resumed again in 1880. Steam locomotives were deployed experimentally in 1882 to haul tram cars.
Tram routes run parallel to other vehicles on special tracks laid out along the side of the busy streets. They follow the whims of the traffic lights and are akin to miniature local trains. Although their numbers are now diminished, they are still far from extinct, and a trip to Kolkata does not seem complete without a tram car ride across the city. Their environmentally friendly nature makes them even more appealing.
