Rare View of Electric Tram In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, 1950 Photo
A 1950 photo captures a rare view of an electric tram at Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Like many other tramway systems in India, the Delhi Electric Tramway and Lighting Company was registered in London in 1908. That same year, Delhi saw its first tram run, marking the beginning of a new era in urban transportation in the city.
A network of electric trams operated in the old parts of Delhi, including Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Sadar Bazaar, etc. At their peak in 1921, 24 trams were running on 16 kilometers of track. It connected busy hubs and markets. Over the years, the network expanded to serve a major part of the old city, becoming an important mode of transport for residents and traders.
However, just like the tram systems of Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai), the Delhi tramway eventually shut down in 1963, ending an important chapter in India’s urban transport history. The reason cited was because narrow roads and traffic congestion. Click on photo to enlarge.
Did you know – preceding the Delhi company, there was a Delhi Municipal Conservancy Tramway and Railway that was formed in 1896-97. It operated till 1938, but no further details seem to be available on this.
From the collection – Drawing Of The Hiding Of The Taj Mahal In WWII.
