KOLKATA: A group of tram enthusiasts have floated an online petition and written to the government to immediately increase frequency of trams, revive the routes where services have been discontinued and create safe stoppages to combat the rising pollution levels in the city.The petition states: “Declare the most congested roads as no-emission zones and allow only trams, other electrical vehicles and cycles. Kolkata has been declared one of the most polluted cities in the world and is emerging as the lung cancer capital of India. In the last few days, Kolkata has become the most polluted city in the country. It is high time pollution is tackled by curbing smoke-emitting vehicles. Tram is a very environment-friendly alternative.”Thousands have visited the Facebook page of Calcutta Tram Users Association (CUTA) and signed the petition and even provided suggestions on how the system can be modernized.Kolkata has been feeling breathless over the past few days with the PM2.5 (ultrafine particles in the air that enter the lungs and the blood stream unhindered) concentration hovering between 450µg/m3 and 500µg/m3 .“Tram is a ready solution to check pollution. But unfortunately, nothing much is being done for it. It is the only one in India and one of the oldest in the world. We strongly believe that the government should sustain and modernize the tramways as a part of the Biswa Bangla initiative ,” said Udit Ranjan Gupta, a tram enthusiast and member of CTUA.The organization was formed in December 2016 to raise awareness about the benefits of trams and work as a pressure group for government agencies responsible for the upkeep of trams. “Trams have had a global revival because of pollution and congestion and the gradual modernization of Kolkata’s trams is urgently needed,” said Roberto D’ Andrea, a former tram conductor and driver in Melbourne and founder of the Kolkata-Melbourne Tramjatra Festival that has been celebrated since 1996.CTUA members suggested several measures to modernize tramways such as automated doors, digital signboards, and better acceleration and braking systems in trams. “Tracks must be isolated from the carriageway and the network must be spread to fledgling townships like New Town,” Gupta said.

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