The cash-strapped Calcutta Tramways Company Ltd (CTC) is looking forward to commercial utilisation of its land resources in Kolkata, to generate revenue. Available estimates suggest that the 132-year-old icon of the city has nearly 43 acres in at least eight prime locations in the city.
Of the 43 acres earmarked to be leased out, 8 acres (25 bigha) is in Nonapukur (central Kolkata) while the rest are spread across seven different depots.
CTC, a loss-making State government undertaking, had in 2010-11 earned around Rs 50 crore from passenger fares and other revenue streams as against a spending of Rs 250 crore. During the period it had received a subsidy of about Rs 200 crore from the State Government.
“We have already submitted a proposal to the State government for leasing out available land at Nonapukur and seven other depots in the city. This will help us generate additional revenues,” Mr Shantilal Jain, chairman, CTC, told
Currently, not even 50 per cent of CTC's fleet are in operation. Of the 272 trams, only 125 (or 46 per cent) are plying on road.
According to Mr Jain, the remaining 54 per cent are awaiting renovation. But they have been taken off the city due to fund shortage.
Tram Cafes
Another revenue generation model for the organisation would be running ‘cafeteria trams' to draw tourists. Two such trams have been proposed to run across the city by September this year. CTC will spend between Rs 4-5 crore for these ‘cafeteria trams', he said.
“We have submitted a detailed project plan to the State tourism department and are awaiting their approval,” Mr Jain said.
Tram in Punjab's Varsity
Plans are also afoot to sell three ‘unused' trams to Jalandhar-based Lovely Professional University.
“Three unused trams will be purchased from the CTC at a total of Rs 1.5 crore. We plan to start a 4.2 km-long tram service within our campus. We are awaiting the necessary clearances from the Punjab State government,” Dr Chinmoy Sarkar, Dean, Lovely Professional University, said.