Kolkata’s Iconic Yellow Taxis To Say Goodbye Soon

Kolkata's famous yellow taxis are slowly disappearing! Soon, you might not see these iconic cabs on the city’s roads. Around 4,500 yellow metered taxis are set to be removed from service this year, bringing big changes to Kolkata’s transport scene.

Kolkata’s Iconic Yellow Taxis To Say Goodbye Soon

Read More: VIDEO: Man Lifts 13-Foot Crocodile On His Shoulders In UP's Hamirpur; Netizens Applaud His Bravery

These taxis, just like the Howrah Bridge and Victoria Memorial, have been a big part of Kolkata’s charm and history. But their importance started fading even before app-based cabs arrived in 2015.

At the start of 2024, there were about 7,000 yellow taxis in Kolkata. Sadly, over 4,400 of them will have to stop running because of a 2008 Calcutta High Court rule. The rule doesn’t allow vehicles older than 15 years to operate in the city. Taxi operators also said that next year, another 2,500 old taxis, mostly the D and E series Ambassadors, will retire. This will leave less than 3,000 yellow taxis on the roads.

These yellow-and-black Ambassadors were once kings of the roads. Introduced by the Calcutta Taxi Association in 1962, these vehicles soon became popular for their reliability and exceptionally distinctive form. A pre-Covid survey conducted in 2020 showed that the number of yellow taxis had declined to 18,000, primarily brought about by the phasing out of old models. Many cabbies have closed businesses as a result of the adverse effects of the pandemic and the 15-year limit on the age of the cab, which made it tougher for the cab operators.

Updating the old taxis is expensive, which has made the situation tougher. New BS VI-compliant cars cost over ₹8 lakh, and without increasing fares to match rising costs, many operators simply can’t afford them. Sanjeeb Roy-the joint secretary of Bengal Taxi Association-agreed that high default rates make it difficult for taxi drivers to get loans. As a result, they could not continue in their profession.

The very recent outlook for the taxi business in Kolkata, which began charging such low fares as 8 annas per mile back in 1908, is doubtful at present. The once-dominantly famous yellow taxis are dwindling from the streets of this city, marking the end of an era. The new scenario will transform Kolkata's transport network as it fades into the past while posing serious challenges to drivers and passengers alike.