I

Calcutta (Kolkatta)
subway, tramway

This 17 station, 16.5 km line is mostly underground, with two stations in the sunlight. Due to difficult tunneling conditions, the line, which opened in 1984, took two over decades to build. The metro has the alleged dubious distinction of the only metro dug by hand. It is unknown if the construction people also used spoons.

Two more lines are planned in Calcutta, and an 8.5 km elevated section on line one is nearing completion. The 17 km, 17 station  line 2 received approval in September 2003. Metro Railway will also be opening a circular, electrified commuter rail line in 2003. Calming music is played in the metro to avoid the 59 attempted suicides since the metro's opening.

Metroplanet page
Official Home Page
Metro Railway official home page
Brief history from Indianvisit.com
Photos
Bengal plans to extend metro rail to Howrah
Line 2 map

Tramways

The Calcutta Tramway Co., which claims to be in it's third century (!), has 65 km of double track, with 25 km of exclusive right of way. However, according to this site, the first tram opened in 1873. Electric Traction was introduced in 1899.

At one time, CTC drivers were sent for psych evaluations to determine whether or not they were accident prone.

An LRT subway for Kolkatta has been proposed; however, the system may simply be converted from old-fashioned tramway to modern light rail, complete with extensions totaling 97.5 km.

9/21/01: Trams to be removed from Calcutta streets
Calcutta trams to remain
Adieu Tramways
Current tram routes from calcuttaweb.com
Kieth Butler's A Streetcar Named Perspire: Losing weight using the Calcutta tram system