KOLKATA – As many as 50 schoolchildren from the Sundarbans began their Durga Puja season with a special tram ride in Kolkata on Sunday, in an initiative aimed at raising awareness about climate change. The event, a collaboration by the organization Tramjatra, seeks to highlight the urgent need to preserve the city’s trams as a symbol of sustainable public transport and as a tool against global warming.
The special journey, which took place on Mahalaya, the auspicious beginning of the Durga Puja festival, was designed to connect the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans with the urban environment of Kolkata. Organizers emphasized that the tram, as a clean, electric mode of transport, is a “strong weapon against global warming,” a phenomenon already threatening the mangrove forests and which will soon have a significant impact on Kolkata as well.
Filmmaker and Tramjatra co-founder Mahadeb Shi said, “The health of the Sundarbans and the future of its people depend on both mangrove roots and tram routes.” He added that the ceremonial journey was a testament to “friendship and a shared commitment to survival and sustainability,” pledging to protect “Mother Earth” from greenhouse gases.
The children were taken on a double-bogie tram, decorated with themes related to the Sundarbans, for a ride that began and ended at the Gariahat depot. The route covered key city areas like Esplanade and Shyam Bazar, giving the students a unique experience of the city’s heritage transport system.
The initiative comes at a time when Kolkata’s iconic tram network is facing an uncertain future, with many routes being discontinued. The organizers and environmental activists hope that this event will not only create awareness among the children but also encourage them to advocate for electric vehicles and green transport in their own communities, ultimately fostering a climate-safe future for both the Sundarbans and the city.
