Kolkata: Over 64 percent of the iconic yellow taxis in Kolkata will be taken off the roads by March 2025, following the state transport department’s decision to enforce a 15-year service limit. This decision comes as part of pollution control measures, which bar vehicles over 15 years old from operating on the roads.

 A historic farewell to the Ambassador model

The yellow taxis, all Ambassadors, were originally manufactured by Hindustan Motors Limited (HML) at the company’s plant in Hooghly, West Bengal. However, with the company halting the production of this model, there are no plans for replacements. The introduction of the yellow taxis to Kolkata's streets dates back to around 1908, though some records suggest it was later. In 1962, the Calcutta Tax Association officially adopted the Ambassador as the standard model for taxis, with the yellow colour chosen for its high visibility, even after sunset.

The future of yellow taxis in Kolkata

Currently, there are approximately 7,000 registered yellow taxis in Kolkata, but about 4,500 will have to be removed from service due to the pollution norms. The decline in popularity of these taxis can be attributed to the rise of app-based cabs, which offer greater comfort and convenience. Despite this, the nostalgic value of yellow taxis remains strong among many residents. The state transport department is exploring ways to preserve this legacy, though no clear solutions have been finalised yet.

“Getting Ambassador models back on the streets is out of the question since the company manufacturing it has stopped the production of this brand now. However, the owners holding the permits of old yellow taxis will be able to get new commercial transport permits against the old ones. Thereafter, any owner, he or she, whoever wants to get yellow as the colour for that commercial vehicle would be allowed to do that by virtue of special permission from the state transport department. However, all these are at the drawing-board stage now and need discussions with the taxi associations,” said an official from the state transport department.

IANS