Two experts have been asked to travel to Kolkata and check out the tramways there.

Not just embracing the hi-tech means, the state government is also ready to fall back on the old to solve the city’s traffic problems. It is planning to reintroduce trams in Mumbai. Officials have asked two experts to travel to Kolkata and study the functioning of trams in the traffic scenario.

For the new roads to be built under the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), the state has to incorporate public transport component within the project to seek funds from the Centre.

Discussing the options on the same on Tuesday, the transportation group of the Mumbai Task Force suggested bringing back trams or Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) to increase the passenger-carrying capacity of city roads.

Experts suggested operations of the trams could be handed over on Built-Operate-Transfer (BoT) basis to a private operator, while the BEST undertaking could run the BRTS.

“Both systems are good. But we need a complete project report on the financial viability traffic projections for the next 15 years. For the BoT model to work, the state government concessions are needed. We need institutional accountability to bring back trams in Mumbai,” said Arun Mokashi, former World Bank consultant and member of the transportation group.

Trams vanished from city roads in 1964 as they were found obsolete though they had 50 per cent capacity than buses. They were eco-friendly, but noisy.  “Trams are back in Europe,” said Sudhir Badami, leading transportation expert and also member of the group.

Mumbai suburban trains carry 3,50,000 commuters an hour at peak hours. While the new coaches can take a mere 1,80,000 passengers an hour (with increased services), the remaining gap 1,70,000 passengers can be filled up using dedicated bus or tram tracks. 

“A three-coach tram carrying 300 people every 20 seconds, or three bus services a minute carrying 300 people on exclusive four routes along the North-South region of Mumbai can easily cover the gap,” said Badami.

“With a road width requirement of 3 m, trams can be more attractive than buses, which require 4 m road width,” added Badami.

With both the final proposals likely to be placed before the state’s empowered committee on Mumbai, the tram seems to be a serious option.

“Modern trams are not noisy at all. A dedicated tram track or bus route would reduce burden on the suburban rail system, make travel comfortable and reduce the over-crowding at rail stations,” said another member.