Kolkata on Wheels took over the District Grand Lodge in Park Street on January 11 and 12 for Kolkata Auto Carnival 2025 with My Kolkata as the digital media partner. The event was inaugurated by Amandeep Singh Grover, general manager of National Insurance Company, the title sponsors of the event. Over 400 automobile lovers flocked to the event on Day 1
Photographs by Krishnungshu Gangopadhyay and Amit Pramanik
With all the cars present at the event from different automotive companies, there were just two bikes on display. Two very different yet regal-looking Harley Davidsons tempted car enthusiasts to turn into bike lovers in a case of love at first sight. Ajay Singh, the sales manager for Bengal Harley Davidson, said: ‘It is an honour that we have two Harleys here today among so many cars.’ Harley brought out the Nightster Special and the X440
Joydip Sur, the editor of Kolkata on Wheels, moderated a panel discussion on the current trends in the automobile industry with panelists representing different participating exhibitors such as Toyota, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Morris Garages, Harley Davidson, Jeep and Citroen. In pic is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
The treasure trail which has become a signature of Kolkata on Wheels took a different shape this time round with the format being moved to a Time Distance Speed (TDS) competition. With five spots to hit across the city, the trail began and ended at the District Grand Lodge where participants had to find five broken car parts and one treasure to decide the winner. The trail took the 18 cars that took part to Quest Mall, Milan Mela, Morris Garages in Topsia, then to the office of Bengal Motorsports Club in Paddapukur, followed by a 6-km drive around south Kolkata before they came to the Kolkata on Wheels office in Bhowanipore. Each car had a driver, a navigator who would take a new tulip from the stewards at each point and a passenger for added support
The event drew to an end with a unique car adda session, where speakers shared different stories about the automobiles in Kolkata. From special memories of road trips to special cars each story had its own uniqueness. Part of the Car Adda included a panel discussion on Highway Motoring and Long Drives conducted by Team Wheels member Debopam Banerjee (centre)
‘The objective behind organising Auto Carnival is to bring all the auto companies under one umbrella and create a platform wherein the consumers and prospective car buyers along with auto enthusiasts can visit an event and have an opportunity to check out the latest product offerings, technology innovations as well as products from insurance companies on one single platform,’ said Joydip Sur, the editor of Kolkata on Wheels Magazine
In picture are some of the cars kept on display through the event. The companies present were Hyundai, Morris Garages, Maruti Suzuki, Jeep, Toyota and Citroen. Shyamal Mistry from National Insurance spoke to My Kolkata about the association with the event: ‘Two wheels or four, you cannot take your vehicle out from the showroom without insurance. Being such a crucial part of the automobile industry it was amazing to be associated with Kolkata Auto Carnival where lots of attendees came and inquired about insurance clearing their doubts as well as understanding what insurance is best for them’
