Around 1,500 yellow taxis to be phased out by end of next year: Official

Phasing out of iconic yellow taxis in Kolkata due to age limit, taxi unions seek revival package.

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.