The Esplanade tram depot. (Bishwarup Dutta)

The transport department wants to turn the drab and dirty Esplanade tram depot into a tourist spot.

Calcutta Tramways Company has drawn up a blueprint for change, to be effected in two phases. The thrust is on transforming the area along RR Avenue. The means of makeover: better illumination, paved pathways and a modern cafeteria.

The Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation has been asked to oversee the project and efforts are on to engage Mackintosh Burn to execute it. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 2 crore.

“The area around the Esplanade tram depot reeks of neglect. We have decided to transform it in such a way that visitors will go there to enjoy the tram’s glorious past,” transport minister Madan Mitra told Metro.

The project will start with something that should be done even if there is no makeover — removing garbage from a part of the depot where people relieve themselves. New railings, painted in the chief minister’s favourite blue-and-white colour combination, will then be installed around the nine-bigha property.

“This part of the project would cost about Rs 7.5 lakh,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain.

In the second phase, the CTC office in the depot, which functions as the control room for tram operations across the city, will be renovated keeping its façade intact. A part of the depot will be landscaped and kiosks set up to sell among other things, tram memorabilia.

The lamp posts in the depot will have a vintage look and a children’s corner will be carved out.

“A multi-level cafeteria will come up at one end of the landscaped garden. The area should be abuzz with people in the afternoons and evening,” said a senior official of CTC.

The makeover plan includes a “passenger shelter” that will have boards displaying tram timings.