KOLKATA: Yellow taxis are here to stay in Kolkata, but the future may not be Ambassador. State govt has allowed all light commercial vehicles with taxi permits to be painted yellow, in a move aimed at preserving the cultural identity of an iconic mode of city transport. A ‘light commercial vehicle’, as per road rules, is any vehicle that can carry between three and six passengers. Hitherto, any such vehicle, which also had a taxi permit, could only be painted white.
State govt’s rule tweak – under Notification No. 3112-WT, issued by issued by transport secretary Saumitra Mohan – came in response to calls from various quarters to allow more flexibility in light passenger vehicles’ colour scheme.
Kolkata’s yellow taxis, introduced in 1962 with Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador cars, have been a cultural staple for decades. Referred to as the “kings of the road” for their reliability and charm, these taxis once dominated the city’s transport landscape. However, their numbers have sharply declined – from 18,000 a decade ago to just 7,000 in 2024. With 4,493 vehicles scheduled to be phased out this year because of the mandatory 15-year service limit for commercial vehicles, fewer than 3,000 yellow taxis will remain by end-2025, it has been estimated. The 15-year age limit, enforced after a 2008 Calcutta HC order, has ensured adherence to green standards, but it also hastened the end of the Ambassador, the last of which was manufactured in 2014.
Nostalgia aside, yellow taxis have struggled to compete with app-based cab-hailing services, which offer greater convenience and affordability, and technological advancements. Dynamic pricing and GPS tracking, among other options, have significantly reshaped Kolkata’s urban commute. Experts viewed govt’s move as a “happy compromise” – one that balances the need to preserve the city’s heritage with the demands of a modern transportation system. “Yellow taxis are an integral part of Kolkata’s identity, and this decision ensures their continuation while addressing the practicalities of modern commuting,” said Sourish Ghosh, a transport historian.
Also, by allowing new car models to adopt the iconic yellow, govt has ensured that a certain part of the city’s cultural identity will endure, even though the days of the Ambassador taxi may be numbered. Additionally, companies, firms or individuals who register 20 or more vehicles in a month can now choose custom colours, insignia or rooftop designs, subject to transport department’s approval.
