Trams, tigers and sustainability: The takeaways from Kolkata’s Sundarban Tramjatra Festival 2025

The ‘Sundarban Tramjatra’ festival in Kolkata was among the most-awaited cultural fests in India. The big takeaway of the event that began on March 28 was a tram decorated with images of the Royal Bengal Tiger, mangrove trees, and rivers.
The initiative was organised by the Calcutta Tram Users Association (CUTA) and aimed at promoting the revival of Kolkata’s iconic heritage transport.
More interesting things to know:
Free rides: The festival is offering free rides from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM along two active routes—Gariahat to Esplanade and Shyambazar to Esplanade. The ‘Sundarban Tramjatra’ festival has a dual purpose. It is not just a celebration of trams but also an effort to raise awareness about environmental conservation, especially the protection of the Sundarbans’ biodiversity.
Eco-friendly transport: As per CUTA member Aditya Banerjee, the initiative aims to revive defunct tram routes while promoting trams as an eco-friendly transport alternative. In the face of global warming and rising carbon emissions, trams remain a sustainable mode of transport, complementing the push for green energy solutions like electric buses.
Live performances and environmental awareness: The festival also includes educational workshops and live performances. The Esplanade Tram Depot will host these events, featuring notable personalities such as filmmaker Ashoke Viswanathan. The festival is supported by the Australian Government under the Maitri Cultural Grant and RMIT University, making it an international effort to blend culture with environmental activism.
Public engagement: A Citizens’ Assembly at the ICCR Rabindranath Tagore Centre brought together experts to discuss the protection of Kolkata’s green spaces and the Sundarbans. The assembly reflects the festival’s broader goal of fostering public dialogue around preserving the city’s environment and heritage.

The future of trams: Kolkata’s tram network has been in operation since 1873, initially with horse-drawn carriages, transitioning to steam and electric trams by 1902. While only 25 trams currently operate across three routes, there are plans to expand the fleet to 55 trams, including the introduction of air-conditioned single-bogey trams.
Trams in Kolkata are a historic symbol of the city’s heritage transport system. Originally horse-drawn, they transitioned to steam and electric models by the early 20th century. Today, despite a reduced fleet, trams remain an eco-friendly, nostalgic mode of transport.