Shyamhari Chakra
Adding another amazing attraction to its unique cultural canvas, Kolkata, often referred to as the ‘City of Joy’, has launched its tram-library service.
West Bengal Transport Corporation has introduced this novel venture in its bid to highlight the City’s heritage and culture in addition to provide a boon to the bibliophile commuters.
The specially designed library-on-wheels will take the trail of 4.5 kilometres between Shyambazar and Esplanade in the City’s iconic College Street area known as the heaven for book-lovers.
About 30 well-known educational institutions are dotted on both the sides of the route that include Calcutta University, Presidency College, Scottish Church College, Hindu School and Calcutta Girls’ School.
The library has a wide variety of books and magazines to cater to the taste of the variety of readers. Special care is being taken to have periodicals for different competitive examinations that would help the students, the officials informed.
Plans are afoot to host book reading sessions, book launch ceremonies and literary festivals in this mobile library, they added.
A tram-literature festival has also been planned for November, it was learnt.
The only Indian city to have the age-old tram transportation system, Kolkata has this service since 1902.
