Tram showcasing jute items to run in Kolkata

The state transport department has taken a several initiatives to make trams an attraction for tourists. Now, in another effort, the department will run a special tram, christened “Paat Rani (Jute Queen)”, combining the two iconic and environment-friendly assets of Kolkata. It is expected to be unveiled around Diwali.

The jute decorations of the tram are made by inmates of Presidency and Dum Dum Correctional homes as part of an initiative of the Rakshak Foundation. The organisation works with the inmates, aided by the state government’s Directorate of Correctional Services, to produce exquisite jute products.

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The products that will be on display have been produced as part of the foundation’s “Jute Story Beyond Bars” initiative that trains prison inmates in workshops, transforming the convicts into artisans who craft diversified jute products of international quality.

The tram will do live commentary on Kolkata. Passengers will also be able to enjoy traditional Bengali music. The tram will also have a cafe that will offer snacks and fruit juices.

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Kolkata Tramways officials are hopeful that the special tram will evoke nostalgia for an era when trams were the mainstay of the city’s public transport system and help share the city’s rich culture with the younger generations.

• tram
• jute
• kolkata
• WBTC