KOLKATA RIDES

Photo courtesy: Koustav Ghosh

We have

1. CIRCULAR RAILWAY

Kolkata Circular Railway, locally known as "Chakra Rail", is a railway loop line encircling the entire city of Kolkata. The line begins and terminates at Dum Dum Junction, with a total of 21 stations spread over a route length of 35 km in a circle.

Kolkata Circular Railway stops at Barabazar.
IMAGE SOURCE: skyscrapercity.com

The original line was a single line track with loading and unloading sidings and wharfs. A few platforms were built and simultaneous reception facilities were constructed at some stations. The line was commissioned from Dum Dum Junction to Prinsep Ghat on 16 August 1984.

Previously the trains were hauled by Diesel Shunters. The electrification works have been completed and four Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) trains originally destined for Sealdah during office hours have been diverted to central business district of Calcutta directly avoiding Sealdah, station connected to Majerhat plying up to Dum Dum to complete the circle.. It has been received with overwhelming support from commuters has been a boon to the office goers.

2. LAUNCH BOATS

Used by the people of Kolkata to commute across the river Hoogli. This services are available at Launch Ghats across the river bank.Twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah are connect by extensive ghats like Fairlie Ghat, Howrah Ghat, Shibpur Ghat, Prinsep Ghat, Cossipore Ghat, etc. Carrying about 30-40 people (sometime more) on board at a time , running during the major part of the day it is the most common water transport in Kolkata.

Launch boat on the Hoogli river
Source: Wikipedia.org

3. ELECTRIC AUTO RICKSHAW

With the GO-GREEN initiative getting into the roots of the city this NEW BRAND of Auto-rickshaws entered the street. Running on pollution free electric energy this ride is rising fast in various areas of the city.

Electric Auto Rickshaw

4. FERRY BOATS

Mainly  used for recreational purpose these boat

BARGE

A barge is a flat-bottomed commercial boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy good. It is mainly used to carry cargo, but in Kolkata and in certain places it is also used by vehicles to go to the other side of the river/canal where there are no bridges nearby. These days Barges are available only on demand ,at the ghats on the hoogly river.

A structural diagram of a Barge

Recently, barges are hired for organizing parties and various occasions for the people who want to celebrate their day floating on the river.

OLDIES                                                                          

DOUBLE DECKER BUS

 Kolkata saw the last of Double-decker buses/Trailer buses with two storeys or decks based on the London’s Red Bus in the 90’s before being scrapped out of service for being “fuel-guzzlers” and  “non viable”.
 But they may be back soon!

In Kolkata, double-deckers put the driver in a separate cab. Passenger access was via an open platform at the rear, and a conductor would collect fares.The rear open platform, popular with passengers, was abandoned for "health and safety" reasons.

Photo Courtesy : Bingley Hall, Image taken in January 1983

In India , Bangalore ,Madras,Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Hyderabad also have double-decker buses. They are modelled on the London red buses.

The newer version of the double decker bus.
Photo: Alexandre Guinzbourg (http://www.trekearth.com)

 Ashok Leyland's Titan double decker buses are used in all cities. Articulated double decker buses from Ashok Leyland were used till it was phased out in early 1990s.

INTERESTING READ: http://www.probashionline.com/calcutta-double-decker/

Steamers/Stream Boats

These have already been driven out of existence and only remains in memory of the people and as museum exhibits. A steamboat is a boat in which the primary method of marine propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels. 

A side paddle wheel steam boat in Kolkata ghat

Here is an old recording of the sound of a steam boat. (Skip to 2:45 mins and wait!)

The introduction of fuel powered motors marked the end of steam boats in Kolkata.