West Bengal Transport Corporation to recruit 44 tram drivers after almost two decades

West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is set to recruit 44 tram drivers after almost two decades. The decision was taken in response to a public interest litigation filed by advocate Sulagna Mukherjee, who had highlighted the dearth of tram drivers in the state.

In her petition, Mukherjee had claimed that the lack of drivers would lead to the tramways dying a natural death, as existing drivers were nearing retirement age. However, WBTC Managing Director RVS Kapur filed an affidavit stating that the 44 drivers were undergoing practical training and would be operational after the completion of training. Kapur further added that recruitment from existing employees was necessary as driving a tram was a specialised job.

The shortage of drivers had been a significant impediment in running regular tram services, which led to commuters relying less on trams as a public transport option.  The situation was further compounded by numerous trams lying defunct in depots due to a lack of connections with the Central Workshop at Nonapukur.

However, Kapur affirmed in his affidavit that trams from the southern part of the city could be taken to the workshop via alternative routes after July 2025, when Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is scheduled to hand the line back to WBTC. The tram service on this stretch had been suspended due to the construction of a part of the Joka-Esplanade Metro.