BEST to preserve British era tram track in Wadala museum

The tram track being removed at Hutama Chowk. It was built during the British rule and was discovered during road repair works near Bombay high court on Sunday. (Photo: Asian Age)

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) has decided to preserve the tram-tracks that were accidentally found at flora-fountain while a contractor was laying fresh asphalt on the road.

BEST chairman Arvind Dudhvadkar who visited the spot on Monday said that the tracks would be carefully removed and transferred to the BEST museum at Anik Depot in Wadala.

“We already have one tram coach that has been preserved at the Anik Depot and we will make sure that the tracks are well preserved,” he said.

According to contractors hired by the BMC the tram tracks were only one foot deep from the surface.

“The contractors did not realise the heritage value of the tracks when they unearthed it last week until they called us and we told them they were tram tracks,” said an official from the BEST.

Mr Dudhvadkar has promised that the process will be fast-tracked and the tracks will find their way to the museum within the next two to three days. “We will be working round the clock to get the track back in mint condition, we have already informed the workers who work on the body of our buses to restore it,” added Mr Dudhvadkar.

Trams were the primary mode of transport in the island city and were run between Colaba and Sion on different routes from 1874 to 1964.

Initially operated on a single-decker, the double-decker tram was introduced in 1920.

This is also said to be an electric tram, which was last operated in May 7, 1907, and the last route was from Gori Bunder to Dadar.