Kolkata’s horse-drawn carriages face uncertainty due to potential ban and low demand.

• Kolkata’s horse-drawn carriages, a symbol of the city’s colonial heritage, have become a tourist attraction, transforming from a luxury reserved for high society to a cherished tourist attraction.
• The carriages, which are owned by Rahul Das, earn ₹14,000 a month and provide food and accommodation to passengers.
• However, the market for these carriages has been dire this year, with the usual flow of passengers dwindling due to protests over the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor.
• Despite the challenges, numerous unlicensed carriages continue to operate, supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of people.
• Animal rights activists and organizations like PETA India have been claiming that horses used in carriages near Victoria Memorial are malnourished and mistreated by owners.
• A Bench of the Calcutta High Court has directed officials of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department to carry out an inspection, assess the health of horses used in these carriages, and submit a report.
• PETA India and CAPE Foundation have found that at least eight horses have succumbed to neglect and mistreatment in the city this year.
• Despite calls for a ban on horse-drawn carriages, many believe they are part of the city’s transport heritage and should be allowed to carry on.
• Advocates for preserving the city’s horse-drawn carriages argue that they should exist as a reminder of its rich heritage.
• The ornate horse-drawn carriages were introduced by the British in the 17th century and initially reserved for the elite until the late 19th century.
• Most of the horses used in Kolkata’s carriage trade are sourced from States like Bihar and Rajasthan, with prices ranging from ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 depending on the breed.
• For Shahid and Rahul, the horse-drawn carriages represent more than just a nostalgic relic of the past — they are a source of livelihood.