The first electric tram in Asia
began operating in Kolkata (then Calcutta), India, in 1902. The
inaugural electric tram service ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on March
27, 1902, marking a major milestone in Asian urban transport after horse-drawn
trams had operated in the city since 1873.
- Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Start Date: March 27, 1902.
- First Route: Esplanade to Kidderpore.
- Significance: It is the oldest operating electric tram network in Asia,
often referred to as a "living museum".
- Transition: Before electricity, the city operated horse-drawn trams
(1873) and experimented with steam locomotives (1882).
The Calcutta Tramways
Company (CTC) oversaw the transition from steam and horse-drawn trams to
electric power. While many cities in Asia previously had tram systems, Kolkata
remains the only city in India where they still run, albeit in a reduced
capacity
