Kolkata’s famed yellow taxis to go off road

State transport department official says vehicles older than 15 years would not be allowed to ply in the city

Kolkata: 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.

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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.

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.