Romance aisle

Sir — Love can bloom not only in the thorniest of gardens but also in the frozen section of the supermarket. In Spain, youngsters are heading to branches of the supermarket chain, Mercadona, to find love. Between 7 pm and 8 pm, shoppers who are single and ready to mingle place an upside down pineapple in their cart and wander down the aisles, bumping their trolleys into those of others who display the signature fruit. Gen Z is clearly tired of digital love and shopping for real-life romance. But in places like India where men see signals of interest even where there are none, this trend could turn dangerous.

Kriti Dasgupta,
Calcutta

Last ride

Sir — The report, “Trams only between Maidan and Esplanade” (Sept 24), spoke volumes about the dire situation facing this historic mode of transport. Trams have been an indelible part of Calcutta’s heritage for the past 151 years and efforts should have been made to preserve them. They are also eco-friendly, unlike buses and cars that release harmful emissions. Over the years, trams have contributed significantly to Calcutta’s robust public transport system that has faithfully served commuters since its inception. The discontinuation of trams would add to the daily hassles of commuters. The government should thus reconsider its decision.

Rupanjali Samadder,
Calcutta

Sir — Calcutta’s trams need to be preserved but not as mere showpieces for tourists as the government intends. The trundling of the tram (Rabindranath Tagore compared its movement with that of a centipede) and the tinkling of its bell are synonymous with this city’s landscape. The government’s approach of treating trams as a misfit is not right. The Alipore Zoo is old, too, but just like we cannot think of doing away with it because amusement parks have come up, we cannot wipe out the tram from the city’s transport system.

Anjan Majumdar,
Calcutta

Sir— The decision to shut down the 151-year-old tram service in Calcutta is unfortunate. The West Bengal government should learn from European countries that still have functional tram services co-existing with modern modes of transport. It should invest in better coaches with greater speed and more safety measures and plan new routes to make the tramways more useful and profitable.

Rit Prasad Dhar,
Calcutta

Sir — Many developed cities like Vienna, Moscow and Paris have tram services. Why should Calcutta be an exception? While the reasons cited by the government for discontinuing tram services, such as high maintenance costs and slow movement causing traffic delays, are partially valid, it is important to preserve the tramways as part of our city’s heritage.

Chandra Mohan Nandi,
Calcutta

Sir — It is ironic that while the whole world is switching to environment-friendly means of transportation to reduce pollution, Calcutta has decided to do away with its tram service. Trams are not only an important part of the city’s heritage but also the vehicle of the future as a green mode of transport.

Jyoti Parruck,
Calcutta

Sir — First drawn by horses, then by locomotives and, finally, powered by electricity, trams are special because they have been around in Calcutta since 1873. One cannot imagine Calcutta without its trams.

T. Ramadas,
Visakhapatnam

Sir — How can we forget the joy rides taken on trams in Calcutta in the Fifties and the Sixties? Those memories still evoke happiness and excitement. It is unfortunate that the tram route will be restricted to just one stretch of the city. One wishes tramways could be restored to its former glory.

Murtaza Ahmad,
Calcutta