Over 64 per cent of the iconic yellow taxis in Kolkata will be off the roads by March 2025 due to the 15-year service limit imposed by the state transport department.
Over 64 per cent of Kolkata’s iconic yellow taxis will be off the roads by March 2025 due to the 15-year service limit imposed by the state transport department. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 registered yellow taxis in the state, but around 4,500 of these will be forced to retire, as pollution norms prohibit vehicles aged 15 years or older from operating on the roads.
These yellow taxis, all Ambassadors, were once produced by Hindustan Motors Limited (HML) at the company’s factory in Hind Motor, Hooghly district, West Bengal. However, since the company halted production of this model, there are no plans to replace them, as reported by news agency IANS.
There is some confusion regarding the exact year when yellow taxis were first introduced on the streets of Kolkata. State transport records suggest that the first yellow taxi may have started operating in 1908, with a fixed per-mile fare of 50 paise for its services.
In 1962, the Calcutta Taxi Association adopted the Ambassador as the standard taxi model, with the yellow colour chosen for its high visibility, even after sunset.
While the popularity of yellow taxis has declined in recent years due to the rise of app-based cabs offering more comfortable rides, the state transport department is exploring ways to preserve the nostalgic charm of these iconic taxis as much as possible.
