Zip, zap, zoom : A special joyride around Kolkata on the CT mobile

Not everyone gets the chance to step out into the city simply for the joy of it. For many women living in shelters, care homes and support institutions, outings are rare and often tied to routine needs rather than leisure.

This International Women’s Day, the CT Mobile Car set out with a simple idea- to give some of these women a few unhurried hours with the city they call home. As the specially designed car rolled through Kolkata’s streets, the ride became more than just a drive: it was a chance to pause for small treats, revisit old memories and watch the city wake up around them. For a few hours, Kolkata wasn’t just a place they lived in, it became a city they could experience, remember and enjoy all over again.

Trail 1: ‘We have never seen Howrah Bridge like this’The first trail began from Dharmatala, moving past the stately General Post Office before heading towards the iconic Howrah Bridge, with the early morning bustle of the city unfolding outside the windows of the CT Mobile Car. On board were Pooja Das and Jolly Nath, two women whose lives speak of resilience. Pooja, who has an Intellectual Disability, recently completed training in baking and is now working at a café, where she spends her days learning new skills and gaining confidence.

Watching the city pass by, she smiled at the novelty of simply being out for a ride. “I have never seen Howrah Bridge like this, especially at this hour. It feels special,” Pooja said.

Seated beside her was Jolly Nath, who has been healing from Schizophrenia and has been steadily rebuilding her life with support and care. As the car approached the Ganges, she paused to take in the view. “Kolkata is so big and beautiful,” Jolly said softly.

“Sometimes when life becomes difficult, you forget to look at it. Today I felt very peaceful.”The ride paused briefly for coconut water before ending with a warm breakfast of toast and chicken stew, where the morning’s conversations continued over tea.

Trail 2: ‘Suddenly, it feels like childhood again’For Pritha Gupta (70) and Shova Kundu (86), the second trail turned into a journey through time. At the sprawling greens of the Maidan, blooming palash trees instantly sparked memories for Pritha, who recalled visiting the Maidan during her college days.“In college we used to come here so often,” Pritha said, smiling as she picked up a fallen palash flower. “We would sit for hours, talking, walking… seeing this again makes me feel like those days have come back.”The two women playfully exchanged the flowers with each other, laughing like teenagers reliving an old ritual.At Victoria Memorial, the mood turned playful as they blew soap bubbles into the air, watching them drift across the gardens.

“It feels like childhood again,” laughed Shova. “At this age, who thinks they will stand here blowing bubbles and eating chaat!” Their ride ended with plates of bhel puri and papri chaat, as stories of old Kolkata continued to flow.

Trail 3: ‘We discovered the most colourful lane in Kolkata’The third trail paired Sadia Parveen (17) and Rina Paswan (32) for a vibrant ride through a street lined with colourful murals and graffiti. The bright artwork instantly caught their attention, turning the lane into what felt like an open-air gallery.

They stepped out briefly near the trees, soaking in the colours around them before sharing pink cotton candy. Later, the ride paused for ice cream, Rina choosing roasted almond while Sadia opted for mascarpone cheese and fruits.Rina, who lives with Dwarfism, laughed as she took her first bite.“I never thought I would be out on a city ride like this,” she said. “Today felt like a picnic - colours, candyfloss and ice cream!” Sadia, who has a speech and hearing impairment, expressed her happiness through wide smiles, excited gestures, and enthusiastic nods, silently conveying just how much she had enjoyed the ride.

“I was so excited about the ride that I could hardly sleep the night before. We don’t get to go out like this very often, so I kept thinking about the city and the journey ahead. Seeing the Howrah bridge, the river flowing below and the city waking up in the morning felt beautiful. It’s a moment I know I will remember for a long time.”- Pooja Das“For a few hours, it felt like I was transported back to my childhood and my younger days. Blowing bubbles in front of Victoria brought back memories of carefree childhood moments, while standing at the Maidan reminded me of the days when I used to come here with my husband during our college days. It felt like time had taken me back.”- Pritha Gupta