History of tram shows the advent of British Government in India. It was the first step to form a metropolitan, modern city of India. Tram System is giving the services till now on from the year 1873. Tram system in Kolkata forms a network of intercity travelling in a gentle way.

Beginning of Tram System in India
In the year 1873, tram car of horse drawn carriage began to run a 2.4-mile tramway service between Sealdah Railway Station and Armenian Ghat Street on 24th February. The service was not adequately patronised, but it was discontinued on 20th November 1873. In 1880, the Calcutta Tramway Company Limited was formed and registered in London on 22nd December. The metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1st November.

Deployment of Steam Locomotives
The steam locomotives were deployed experimentally in the year 1882 to haul tram cars. By the end of the nineteenth century, Calcutta Tramway Company Limited owned 166 tram cars, 1000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles of tram tracks.

Electrification of Tram Cars
During 1900, the electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to 4 ft 8 1/2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) began to happen.

First Electric Tramcar in Asia
The first electric tramcar in Asia ran in the year 1902 from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27th March, and on 14th June from Esplanade to Kalighat. The Kalighat line was extended during 1903 to Tollygunge, the Esplanade line to Belgachhia and the Esplanade to Shialdaha route opened.

Tram Route in Kolkata
The Esplanade to Bagbazar route through College Street opened in 1904. During 1905, Howrah Station to Bandhaghat route was opened to trams in June. The electrification project completed. Bowbazar Junction to Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Ahiritola Junction to Hatibagan Junction routes opened during 1906. The lines to Shibpur via G.T. Road were prepared in 1908. Esplanade to Shialdaha station via Moula Ali Junction, Moula Ali Junction to Nonapukur, Wattganj Junction to J.Das Park Junction, Mominpur Junction to Behala routes opened. Sealdah Station to Rajabazar route opened during 1910. Mirzapur Junction to Bowbazar Junction and Shialdaha Station to Lebutala Junction routes opened during 1915. In 1920, the Strand Road Junction to High Court route opened. Raja S.C. Mallik Square Junction to Park Circus route opened during 1923. The Barhabazar Junction to Nimtala route opened in 1925. During 1928, the Kalighat to Baliganj route opened. The Park Circus line extended to Garhiahat Junction in 1930. The Rajabazar line extended to Galiff Street during 1941. The Calcutta system was well connected during 1943 with the Howrah section through the new Howrah Bridge in February. With this extension, the total track length reached 42.0 miles.

Tram after Independence
After India gained Independence, the Government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted. The government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways, and reserved the right to purchase the system on 1st January 1972 or any time thereafter. The Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company Act and assumed management on 19th July 1967. On 8th November 1976 the Calcutta Tramways ordinance was promulgated, under which the company united with the Government. The Howrah sections were closed in October; the 1971 to 1973 Nimtala route was closed down in May 1973, and realignment of the Howrah Station terminus occurred.

Track Length of Tram Route in Kolkata
The total track length was now reduced to 38 miles. The tram tracks on Bentinck Street and Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay Road closed during 1980 for construction of the Kolkata metro; following construction, these stretches were not reopened. Overhead wires were present until 1994 on Bentinck Street. Tracks on Jawaharlal Nehru Road remained after realignment, making a new terminus at Birla Planetarium, Kolkata; the Birla Planetarium route closed in 1991. An overpass was constructed on that road in 2006.

Extension of Tram Routes
On 31st December 1986, the further extension of tram tracks from Behala to Joka was completed. In 1993, the Howrah Station terminus closed and tram tracks removed on Howrah Bridge; the cantilever bridge proved too weak for trams. All routes terminated there were shortened to the Barhabazar (Howrah Bridge) terminus. The High Court terminus closed for reconstruction of Strand Road in 1995. The rails and wires were removed from there and from Strand Road, Hare Street and Shahid Kshudiram Basu Road.