Kolkata has launched a special 2026 calendar to save its nearly extinct trams. The calendar is printed by Tramjatra, a tram carnival started in 1996 by tram lovers from Melbourne and Kolkata, including ex-driver Roberto D’Andrea. The aim is to raise awareness and love for the 152-year-old tram system which is at the brink of disappearing. Filmmaker Mahadeb Shi, co-founder of Tramjatra, said, "The main goal is to highlight the Kolkata tram’s battle to survive. At the moment, the city stands at a painful crossroads, ready to erase its own 152-year-old living legacy. But we are discreetly critiquing, without resorting to overt criticism. The design is clearly pro-tram ‘calendar art’, our idea being to create a love for trams." The calendar features photos taken by Roberto D’Andrea over the years, along with quotes from famous writers like Rabindranath Tagore and Tennessee Williams. The theme honors the Nonapukur Workshops, where trams were built between 1996 and 2016. Financial analyst Anurag Mitra, the designer, said, "Nonapukur is rapidly deteriorating with just 270 staff left from the more than a 1,000 about 10-15 years back. We plan to release it before the New Year, with all proceeds going to fund tram-related activities." Once a major mode of transport, Kolkata’s trams now run on only two routes. The West Bengal government has shown little interest in reviving them, with some officials suggesting discontinuation. Only groups like the Calcutta Tram Users’ Association (CTUA) and Tramjatra keep fighting for the tram’s survival through protests and rides. CTUA member and electrical engineer Indranil Banerjee explained the urgency: "The idea is to create an awareness about the tram, to encourage people to use it. Pollution level is at its worst, with the AQI crossing 300. The faster we get rid of diesel vehicles the better for us. We need a system that runs on electricity — not the EV that you have these days which will only add to the pollution by producing battery scrap, but something like the tram which draws power directly from an overhead line."