Around 1500 yellow taxis in WB to be phased out by end of next year

Around 1,500 metered yellow taxis in West Bengal would be phased out by the end of next year as commercial vehicles older than 15 years are not allowed to ply in the city, a transport department official said on Saturday.

There are around 4,500 Ambassador metered yellow taxis in the state which will come down to 3,000 by the end of 2026, the official said.

In 2008 the Calcutta High Court had ordered that commercial vehicles older than 15 vehicles would not be allowed to ply in the city, the official said.

The yellow taxis are an integral part of Kolkata's heritage and many taxi unions have urged the Transport department for a viable revival package for the yellow taxis.

 

Taxi drivers union claimed many Ambassador metered yellow taxis are road-worthy and can be allowed to run another five years at least with proper maintenance and change in engine if the transport authorities withdraw the age limit of 15 years.

"From 25,000 in 2019-20, the number of yellow taxis witnessed a steady dip in the city and its neighbourhood. It went down to 8,500 in 2023... By next April the number is further set to come down," INTUC state president and taxi wing leader Pramod Pandey told PTI.

"We wish to know what is the government's line of action to avert the crisis. The transport department has not revised the fares of yellow metered taxis since 2016... The government virtually made the meter taxi system defunct while the app cab system cannot be used by a majority of elderly taxi drivers," he said.

Pandey said around 10,000 people - taxi drivers, family members and those who love the vehicles - will soon send an open letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighting the issue and offer rose to Transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty as a symbolic protest against the state's alleged apathy towards yellow metered taxis.

"From Bollywood filmmakers to Kolkata's icons like Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen everyone had projected yellow taxis in their works. Visitors to the city take snaps of yellow taxi and board this vehicle. If the state don't do anything to save yellow taxi a part of Kolkata's history will go forever," he said.

The senior transport official said the government was in favour of keeping the metred taxi fleet with BS 6 complaint new models and will facilitate bank loans to the owners.

"There is no way we can keep the old Ambassador models after they attain the age of 15 years. We have to abide by the 2008 Calcutta High Court order about commercial vehicles not being allowed to ply in the city after 15 years. Hence we have to follow the alternative ways for the interest of every stakeholder," the official said.

He said the transport department will soon meet the taxi unions.

Once coloured yellow and black, the Ambassador taxi has been synonymous with the city of joy, like the Howrah bridge and the Victoria Memorial.

The yellow-and-black Ambassador taxis hit city roads in 1962.