For
through
in Kolkata & Darjeeling
as a SVEEP Activity
in West Bengal
for
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal 21, Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata – 700 001 SVEEP & Tram
Back ground :
In the state of West Bengal , the voters turn out at elections is quite high, the reasons of which date back to the past due to the consciousness and legacy of greater participation of the people in general in the democratic process. But an intriguing fact is that the elector population ratio is still not ideal for the state as a whole. This leaves scope for further introspection to take measures for covering the still ‘left outs’. For this, SVEEP programmes have been envisaged to build up awareness through dissemination of information on electoral matters among the common people.
A thorough analysis of data of electoral participation at the assembly constituency level, shows that the enrolment vis a vis participation of people in the electoral processes has been traditionally low in the urban areas particularly in the cosmopolitan areas of Kolkata. This year, special initiatives have been initiated to involve the people of the urban cosmopolitan areas of Kolkata and adjoining areas. Attempts were made to build up awareness on electoral registration matters during the just concluded Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls, 2013 period also . Similarly as a special initiative, we have planned to make publicity of NVD through tram cars which is distinctive to the identity of Kolkata.
Legacy of Tram running in Kolkata:
Replica of Horse driven tram car
Kolkata boasts of being the only city in the country to have tram cars .The objective behind the publicity through tram cars has been extension of information on electoral enrolment through the popular and historic medium of transport which the people identify with great pride and fondness. The journey of the tram cars began in 1873 which included a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February. The Calcutta Tramway Co. Ltd was formed in 1888 and the service started extending to different areas of Kolkata. By the end of 19th century, both horse and locomotive driven trams were used and started to gain popularity among the people as a medium of transport. Subsequently electrification of tram cars was done in the early part of 20th century and the extension of routes continued. In 1951, the government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways. Thereafter extension of service continued in terms of increase in the number of fleet and routes as well. Tramways became an integral part of the public transport system of Kolkata as the services were extended to the sub urban areas like Joka in the southern most fringe of the metropolis to Ultadanga in the north east. Trams were very much a preferred type of transport by the children and aged persons . In recent time, tram routes in many parts of Kolkata has been withdrawn or shortened in order to meet the challenges of fast moving vehicles and pressure of commuters, but the trams in Kolkata still continue to have an iconic image and ooze nostalgia of old world charm for its uniqueness and eco friendly usage.
Fleet of trams running in Kolkata
Approach:
In an endeavor to reaching out to the people through tram cars , Calcutta Tramways Company ( CTC), a Government of West Bengal undertaking has been made our partner and the programme of making publicity through tram cars has been taken up with them .The response of the CTC officials in associating with our endeavor has been very positive .In order to make the programme successful several meetings and joint visits have been held with them.
Planning:
For the SVEEP programme for NVD , the plan is based on the following :
· Number of tram cars involved – 10 numbers · Publicity space per trams is 340 sq ft. · All major routes from every depot will be covered in rotation manner which will include the following: a) Belgachia depot- Route no 1,2,4,5,6,10,11 b) Gariahat depot-Route no 25,26 c) Rajabazar depot – Route no 12,16,16,17,18 d) Khidirpur depot- Route No 36 e) Park Circus depot- Route no 20,20/17,21,22
· Timing ; Every day from 2.1.2013 to 25.1.2013 ( 24 days ) from 4 am to 11pm · Every tram runs 70 km per day , thereby the fleet will cover 70X10=700 km per day and in 24 days it will cover 16800 km.
· On an average the passenger travel per day is 400-420 per tram, thereby in 1 day 4000 passengers and in 24 days, 96000 persons will travel . · Further, not only the passengers even the people passing through the roads all across Kolkata will get to see the publicity.
Cost involvement:
· Fund will be provided to the CTC for making available of the tram cars for this purpose and branding of the cars with the message of NVD as has been developed by us.
Tram routes in Kolkata
The running of publicity trams has just been started to roll off and we are in the process of assessing the public impression. But expectedly this initiative will generate lot of interest among the people and eventually it will pave the way for greater dissemination of information on electoral matters through reaching out to the people in a better manner which may show a good reflection on enrolment by plugging information gaps and combating urban apathy.
******** SVEEP & Toy Train
As an endeavor to generate awareness among the people on electoral matters , this year we have planned to make publicity through people oriented activities and what more can be done than by involving Toy Trains for the district of Darjeeling, the land of the Himalayas, which is distinctive to the identity of mountains, tea and tourism.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. Built between 1879 and 1881, the railway is about 78 kilometres (48 mi) long. Its elevation level varies from about 100 metres (328 ft) at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) at Darjeeling. Four modern diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled services: however the daily Kurseong-Darjeeling return service and the daily tourist trains from Darjeeling to Ghum (India's highest railway station) are handled by the vintage British-built B Class steam locomotive, DHR 778. The railway is listed as the World Heritage Site. The headquarters of the railway is in the town of Kurseong.
Logo of the original Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The construction of the railway started in 1879 by the Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co. and it was opened in 1881. The railway line covering steep gradient from 100 m at the beginning and 2200m enroute within a short span of 78 km is an engineering marvel particularly the spiraling of lines in ‘Batasia Loop’ still considered as an engineering feat of very high caliber . Despite natural calamities, such as an earthquake in 1897 and a major cyclone in 1899, the railway continued to improve with new extension lines being built in response to growing passenger and freight traffic.
After the independence of India, the DHR was absorbed into Indian Railways and became a part of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone in 1958.Though in recent times , the dependence on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has reduced as the main mean of transport due to competition from fast moving road vehicles, the DHR or Toy Train of Darjeeling still continues to be the main attraction of the tourists visiting the area as it oozes old world charm with nostalgic and pleasant rides passing through picturesque landscape.
DHR was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, only the second railway to have this honour bestowed upon it, the first one being Semmering Railway of Austria in 1998 for its uniqueness and its role in development of socio economic condition of the region way back from 18th century.
Toy Train approaching Darjeeling, taking water
Darjeeling Station
Approach:
In an endeavor to reaching out to the people through toy train , Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a subsidiary of Indian Railways has been made our partner and the programme of making publicity through toy trains has been taken up with them .The response of the DHR officials in associating with our endeavor has been very positive .In order to make the programme successful several meetings and joint visits have been held with them.
Planning:
For the SVEEP programme for NVD , the plan is based on the following :
· Full train will be hired and used for NVD celebration on 25th January. · All compartments will be used for publicity materials like posters, festoons and other celebration items in attractive manner. · Efforts have been made to arrange for interactive sessions on electoral matters with the passengers and tourists travelling by the train and provide them with relevant information and forms for enrolment etc. · Timing : All trips of one train will be covered on 25th January. · Distance covered will be 78 kms. · During its journey from New Jalpaiguri, it passes through Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Chunabhatti, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Tung, Sonada, Jorebunglow, Ghum, Batasia Loop and Darjeeling. · On an average the passenger travel per day is 400per . · Further, not only the passengers even the people passing through the nearby roads all along the route will get to see the publicity .
Cost involvement:
· Fund will be provided to the DHR for making available of the toy train for this purpose and branding of the train with the message of NVD as will be developed and supplied by the DEO, Darjeeling.
As the Toy train of Darjeeling has a tremendous appeal for its charm and uniqueness and it essentially draws attention among the common people and the tourists, it is expected that use of this popular medium of transport will be able to generate lots of enthusiasm for the message it will carry for NVD which eventually may help us in achieving the target of reaching out to people. ********