End Of An Era: Half Of Kolkata’s Yellow Taxis Set To Disappear Soon, Here's Why The Iconic Fleet Is Fading

Kolkata's iconic yellow taxis, predominantly Ambassador cars, face a dramatic decline as older vehicles are phased out. Taxi owners plead for flexibility in regulations to preserve the remaining taxis.

Kolkata's iconic yellow taxis, a long-standing symbol of the city, are set to see a dramatic decline as the deadline to phase out commercial vehicles older than 15 years approaches. With nearly half of the existing fleet of 7,500 yellow taxis likely to be taken off the roads by the end of this year, owners have voiced their concerns, urging for more flexibility in transport regulations to preserve the remaining taxis.

The Joint Forum of Taxi Associations, which represents taxi owners, announced on Tuesday that it would petition the transport minister to ensure that any car under 15 years old can be converted into a commercial vehicle, painted yellow, and operated as a taxi, The Telegraph reported. This would allow private vehicles of any make to switch to commercial registration and continue operating as yellow taxis in the city. The forum also called for similar provisions to apply to commercial vehicles.

According to The Telegraph, senior officials in the transport department said approximately 4,500 yellow taxis are expected to be phased out by the end of the year, with the rest following suit over time. The Calcutta High Court had ordered in 2008 that no commercial vehicle older than 15 years could operate in the city, a ruling that is now being enforced.

The fleet of yellow taxis, predominantly made up of Ambassador cars, which are no longer produced, has long been a fixture of Calcutta’s streets. However, with the rise of app-based cabs, the once-reliable yellow taxis have lost much of their popularity. The remaining taxis are also often seen operating without metered fares, with drivers and passengers negotiating prices before the ride begins.

“Apart from the 4,493 metered yellow cabs that are being phased out by the end of 2024, another 2,500 yellow taxis are due to be phased out in 2025,” said Naval Kishor Shrivastav, convener of the West Bengal Taxi Operators' Coordination Committee, a member of the Joint Forum, as per The Telegraph's report.

Ashim Basu, general secretary of the Bengal Taxi Association, added that fewer than 2,000 yellow taxis will remain in Calcutta after the phase-out of the existing fleet. He called for the transport department to adopt a more flexible policy, allowing taxi owners to purchase any vehicle less than 15 years old and run it as a taxi. "A new medium-sized emission-compliant car is priced around Rs 6-8 lakh. If a taxi owner finds a pre-used car less than 15 years old, we want the transport department to issue a taxi permit to him," Basu said, as quoted by the report.

The taxi owners also argue that the existing system is financially burdensome. Many taxi owners have faced severe financial strain following the Covid-19 lockdown and the rise of app cabs. Operating costs have increased, yet fares have remained unchanged since 2018. "We will seek a fair fare structure. To date, the base fare for yellow taxis is Rs 30. But the prices of everything, from fuel to spare parts, have gone up," Basu added.

Taxi owners have also expressed frustration with the limited earnings, with one taxi owner revealing, "We earn Rs 380-400 a day after running a vehicle for more than 12 hours. After paying the drivers and for fuel, we are left with Rs 380-400 on average. And then there are traffic fines and challans", as per the report.

Kolkata: Protests, Suggestions Over Revamping Iconic Yellow Taxis 

In response to the phase-out of older taxis, the state government has stated that the move is part of efforts to protect the environment and modernise the city's transport infrastructure. However, this decision has sparked protests from several prominent citizens, who are concerned about the financial difficulties faced by taxi drivers and the potential loss of Kolkata's cultural heritage.

On December 4, a discussion titled "Lost Melody of Yellow Taxis" was held at the Kolkata Press Club, with prominent figures such as lawyer Jayant Narayan Chattopadhyay, CPM leader Shatarup Ghosh, social worker and poet Jharna Bhattacharya, and Additional Police Commissioner Shanti Das attending, Anandabazar Patrika reported.

During the discussion, Jayant Narayan proposed introducing yellow taxis modelled after London's iconic "Black Cabs," while singer Anubhav Maity called for government subsidies and grants to help keep the yellow taxis operational. Jharna Bhattacharya suggested implementing counselling sessions for taxi drivers to curb ride refusals, as per Anandabazar Patrika.

A transport department official stated, “We are exploring opportunities with representatives of the automobile industry about filling the void.” The department is also looking into the “actual demand” for yellow cabs in the city.

The fate of Kolkata’s yellow taxis hangs in the balance, as the city faces a significant shift in its transportation landscape.