The Bengal News, Kolkata, India : The sight of a bulky, canary-yellow taxi a Hindustan Ambassador navigating the chaotic, culture-rich streets of Kolkata is more than just a means of transport. It is a signature element of the city’s visual and cultural identity. Like the Howrah Bridge or the Victoria Memorial, the ‘yellow cab’ is an irreplaceable icon, one that has ferried generations of residents and visitors, embodying the spirit of the ‘City of Joy’.

_{^{Kolkata Heritage Yellow Taxi / Photo : Sudip Chanda}}

The taxi’s history in Kolkata dates back to the early 20th century, with the first cabs plying the roads around 1908. However, the true iconic status belongs to the Hindustan Ambassador.

1. 1958: Hindustan Motors, based near Kolkata, began production of the Ambassador, based on the British Morris Oxford.
2. 1962: The Calcutta Taxi Association adopted the Ambassador as the standard taxi model. The distinct yellow color was chosen primarily for its high visibility, especially at night.
3. The Golden Age: For decades, the Ambassador, affectionately known as the ‘Amby’, was the King of Indian Roads. Its sturdy build, spacious back seat (often described as a ‘sofa’), and endurance made it perfectly suited for Kolkata’s infrastructure. They were immortalized in the works of legendary filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, etching their yellow silhouette onto the canvas of Bengali cinema and literature.

_{^{Kolkata Heritage Yellow Taxi / Photo : Sudip Chanda}}

The Decline of a Classic

The golden age, however, could not last forever. A confluence of regulatory, economic, and technological factors has pushed the iconic yellow fleet to the brink of extinction.

1. Regulatory Hurdles: A pivotal 2008 ruling by the Calcutta High Court mandated the scrapping of commercial vehicles older than 15 years to combat air pollution. Since the Hindustan Motors factory rolled its last Ambassador off the line in 2014, the existing yellow fleet has been steadily decommissioned with no direct replacement.
2. Economic Strain: The aging Ambassador models are expensive to maintain, inefficient on fuel, and lack modern amenities like air conditioning. Furthermore, stagnant fare revisions combined with rising operational costs made the business financially unsustainable for many drivers.
3. The App-Cab Revolution: The advent of ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola introduced a new era of convenience, GPS tracking, competitive pricing, and air-conditioned comfort, swiftly changing passenger preference, especially among the younger generation.

_{^{Kolkata Heritage Yellow Taxi / Photo : Sudip Chanda}}

A Glimmer of Yellow: Preservation Efforts

While the classic Ambassador taxis are rapidly vanishing, there is a push to preserve the yellow cab’s legacy in a modern form.

1. Newer Models: Some permits have been transferred to newer, more fuel-efficient cars like the Maruti Wagon R or Tata Indica, painted in the traditional yellow.
2. ‘Heritage Cabs’: In an effort to merge nostalgia with modernity, some initiatives have introduced ‘Yellow Heritage Cabs,’ often using modern vehicles like the Maruti Wagon R but painted in the iconic color and sometimes managed through the state-backed ‘Yatri Sathi’ app to provide a tech-enabled experience without losing the heritage color.

The loss of the Ambassador-era yellow taxi is more than just a change in transport; it’s the departure of a beloved cultural symbol. For those who grew up in the city, the yellow Ambassador taxi is a time machine—a faithful companion that carried secrets, dreams, and the very essence of Kolkata’s enduring, nostalgic charm. As the city modernizes, the iconic yellow cab leaves behind a legacy of resilience, a history painted in the unmistakable, vibrant hue of sunshine on the streets of the City of Joy.