Kolkata Alumni and Students Rally for Tram Network Revival as Green Urban Solution
In a powerful display of civic engagement, alumni and current students from several of Kolkata's most esteemed schools have launched a collective campaign to revive the city's historic tram network. They argue that trams are far more than just nostalgic relics; they represent a critical, non-polluting public transport solution to Kolkata's escalating air quality crisis and severe traffic gridlock.
Debate Platform Ignites City-Wide Conversation on Trams
The movement gained significant momentum at the Fifth Annual Inter-School Alumni Debate, hosted by the Our Lady Queen of the Missions School Alumni Association in Park Circus. The central debate motion—'Tram routes in Kolkata need to be revitalised to manage pollution in the city'—resonated deeply with participants and observers alike, sparking a broader city-wide discussion on sustainable urban mobility.
Prestigious Schools Unite for a Common Cause
The debate featured active participation from six leading educational institutions, each represented by two alumni speakers. The participating schools were:
- Don Bosco School, Park Circus
- Saifee Golden Jubilee Public School
- Sushila Birla Girls' High School
- Shri Daulat Ram Nopany Vidyalaya
- St Xavier's Collegiate School
- Our Lady Queen of the Missions School
This diverse gathering underscored a unified, cross-generational appeal for modernizing Kolkata's tram infrastructure.
Expert-Led Discussions and Overwhelming Public Support
The event was skillfully moderated by renowned cardiologist Dr. Kunal Sarkar and TEDx speaker Preeti Roy Choudhury. A distinguished judging panel, including Pradeep Gooptu, founder of the Calcutta Debating Circle, and Abhijit Gupta from Jadavpur University, evaluated the proceedings.
A particularly impactful open-house question and answer session was led by Debashish Bhattacharyya, President of the Calcutta Tram Users Association. This session highlighted a palpable and growing public interest in tram-based solutions for the city's environmental and logistical challenges. The debate concluded with the House overwhelmingly upholding the motion in favor of tram revitalization.
Recognition of Eloquent Advocacy
St Xavier's Collegiate School was adjudged the best school for its overall performance and compelling arguments. Individual oratory excellence was also celebrated, with Subid Chakraborty of Don Bosco School being named the best speaker. Alokananda Sengupta of Our Lady Queen of the Missions School was recognized as the runner-up speaker.
This event marks a significant step in grassroots advocacy, positioning Kolkata's iconic tram system not as a symbol of the past, but as a forward-looking, eco-friendly pillar for the city's sustainable urban future. The collective voice of these students and alumni adds considerable weight to the call for policy action and investment in revitalizing this clean transport network.
