Kolkata rides a tram full of climate voices this Environment Day

This World Environment Day, it wasn’t just about planting trees, it was about showing up. From school students and NGO volunteers to writers, urbanists and long-time tram activists, a cross-section of Kolkata gathered at tram depots and along the tracks to turn a slow-moving tram into a fast-moving statement on climate action. As a decorated tram rolled across the city, the energy on ground made one thing clear: for many here, sustainability isn’t symbolic, it’s deeply tied to how the city moves, lives, and plans its future.

The tram doesn't pollute. The arguments against it do.

Dr. Debasish Bhattacharyya, President of CTUA, was unequivocal. "Trams draw power directly from overhead electric lines and convert it into mechanical energy , there is no toxic residual waste," he said, taking a pointed swipe at the electric vehicle industry's lithium-ion battery problem. "Removing trams from Kolkata at this point would be a short-sighted and damaging decision." Pradeep Kakkar, Founder Member of People United for Better Living in Calcutta, backed him with data , or rather, the lack of it.

"Claims that trams slow down traffic are baseless. We filed an RTI asking for evidence. The response was zero." His organisation has taken the tram cause all the way to the Supreme Court. "We don't see trams as heritage relics," added Bonani Kakkar, the group's President. "We've been fighting for them for years, not just on World Environment Day."

A creative, community-led push for revival

The tram itself doubled up as a visual statement, blending reused materials with printed elements like old photographs - striking a balance between sustainability and storytelling. “We were clear that we wanted to reuse as much as possible,” said artist Shreya Goswami. “The idea was to create something with soul using what we already had.” “This initiative is also about presenting trams to a new generation,” said Deyasini Roy of Placemaking India. Swati Mishra added, “We want to build stronger public engagement and advocacy for trams and create more vibrant public spaces around them.” For KSDS, the day blended tradition with collaboration. “We have been planting trees every year for 19 years. This time, being part of this initiative makes it even more special,” said secretary Jayatipa Dasgupta.