Chandni Chowk With Tram British Era Delhi, 1910 Postcard
A rare 1910 postcard of Chandni Chowk with tram in Delhi. The lone electric tram seems to travel at full capacity in Chandni Chowk. The street looks a little bare at the time, unlike, the heavily congested and overcrowded street it is today. It was for the very reason, the Delhi Electric Tram had to discontinue operations in 1963, because of congestion and lack of space.
The tramway was commissioned by Viceroy Lord Hardinge, it started operating in 1908. Plying the routes of Esplanade Road, Queen’s Way, Minto Road, Connaught Circus, Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Sadar Bazaar, and so on. Consequently, by 1921 there were around 25 trams linking important places in Old Delhi and New Delhi. Chandni Chowk was believed to have been built by Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara Begum in the 17th century.
Did you know – unlike the trams in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras all of which started with horse-drawn tramways. In Delhi, it began with the electric tramway.
From the collection – M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Drawing 1964 (#19)., Bhuleshwar Street Bombay Mumbai 1870 Old Photo., British Era Madras Boat Club Annual Regatta, 1912., Earliest Motor Car In Colaba Bombay – Old Photo 1900.
