The iconic yellow taxis in Kolkata will be gone but not totally. In this latest blog we will be sharing a bit of the emotional connection people of Kolkata have with the yellow cabs, the present status of the cabs, a bit of history, and facts about a welcome move made by the West Bengal’s transport department.

Let’s get on with it, now shall we?

The history of the yellow cabs in Kolkata

Let’s take a quick look at the history of the yellow taxis in Kolkata.

Well, for starters, believe it or not, back in the day, 1908 to be exact – when the Hindustan Motor Ambassador Taxis were introduced to the streets of Kolkata, they were not all painted yellow. Instead, the taxis that would remain within the city"s bounds will be painted black. And the taxis that would take passengers on intercity commutes came with a yellow paint job. Additionally, back in those days, the fare was limited to a mere 8 annas per mile!

The emotional connection of yellow taxis with Kolkatans

The Yellow Cabs of Kolkata always tug on the nostalgic heartstrings of Kolkatans. Almost every person living in West Bengal’s capital has had a memorable trip in the backseat of a metered yellow taxi. Hence, it is no surprise that it is hard to imagine the streets of Kolkata without its iconic yellow cabs, isn’t it?

Present status of yellow taxis in Kolkata

Back in the day, people sympathized with the yellow cabbies but not anymore. With the advent of app cabs in Kolkata, it seems that the yellow cab drivers have developed ‘rules’ of their own!

For instance, there are several ‘horror’ stories on social media platforms where cabbies refuse to even turn on the meter of their cab even after they have started a trip. Additionally, there are countless daily instances where yellow cabbies choose to ask for exorbitant fares even when the distance they have to cover is minuscule!

Then there is the overall state of all yellow cabs in Kolkata. None of the Ambassadors are well-maintained. They emit pitch-black smoke, rattle like a rusted bucket, and have rust-eaten body panels.

Furthermore, all the yellow taxis have numerous dents and scratches on their painted panels. The rear seats are all in poor condition, the ride quality is poor due to badly maintained suspensions. The roof liners are filthy and the drivers – well, they will always flaunt a condescending attitude! And yes, none of the yellow cabs come with air conditioners which make taking a ride on these vehicles on hot Kolkata summer days - a hellish experience, to put it mildly! Even a vehicle health check offered by a revered car inspection service cannot help these poorly maintained vehicles bounce back to their good old days!

All of the above conditions led to the current stage where no one in their right mind would hail a yellow cab.

Additionally, another reason that has almost killed the heyday of the yellow cab in Kolkata is the current emission norms. None of the yellow taxis in Kolkata comply with the BS6 emission norms. The reason is simple. All of the Hindustan Ambassador yellow cabs are either BS3 or BS4 compliant – thus accelerating the decision of the authorities to remove these extremely inefficient and highly polluting vehicles off the Kolkata streets, for good!

A welcome move by West Bengal’s Transport Department

The authorities of West Bengal introduced a few changes to the State’s Motor Vehicle Rules (1989) which includes a provision that allows all metered cabs to resemble the iconic yellow taxi in Kolkata. In simple words, someday in the future, all HM Ambassadors will be removed from the Kolkata streets but to preserve the heritage, as per the newly introduced norms, which will be inserted into Rule 270(2) of the WBMV Rules, 1989 - all metered taxis in Kolkata can be painted yellow. Also, these yellow-painted new-generation metered cabs can sport custom insignia, rooftop boards as well as graffiti given they have written approval for the design modifications from the State’s Transport Department!

Phasing out of the HM Ambassador taxis is a good move

The HM Ambassador was never updated to comply with the changing emission norms of India. It means that all the HM Ambassador yellow taxis that still cruise the streets of Kolkata emit dangerous levels of pollutants through their tailpipes.

In a nutshell, none of the yellow cabs of Kolkata are roadworthy.

Additionally, the removal of the HM Ambassador cabs from the Kolkata streets would help to reduce air pollution and at the same time, boost the auto industry since drivers would buy new vehicles in a bid to sustain themselves as a cab driver.

Why it is important to keep your vehicle’s health top-notch?

You need to ensure that your car has immaculate electromechanical health. The reasons are as follows –

• A properly maintained car will be fuel efficient.
• A properly maintained car is a safe car for people to ride in and be around, period!
• A properly maintained car will retain its resale value for years.
• A properly maintained car will seldom break down and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Get the point?

The OG Yellow Cabs Will Be Gone But Will Live On In Modern Avatars!

The original Ambassador yellow cabs made by Hindustan Motors will be gone from the streets of Kolkata but they will never be forgotten. Additionally, the West Bengal Government can buy ten or twenty good-condition yellow cabs, convert them into EVs, and let them run on the Kolkata roads such as the Maidan, Victoria Memorial, or Park Street - where the tourist footfall is high! In this way, the modified yellow cabs can fetch the West Bengal government quite a bit of money.

With that stated and out of the way, it is best to remember that car ownership is fun and demanding at the same time. As a car owner, you need to keep your car in its best electromechanical health. To do this, rely on the expert advice shared at AutoHealth CarChat – an initiative by AutoHealth India. You can also book a free vehicle health check by contacting AutoHealth at your earliest convenience.