The municipality of Kolkata, West Bengal, is implementing a decision to phase out yellow taxis by the end of 2027. This step is motivated as both an ecological problem and the aging of vehicles that have ceased to meet modern standards. According to the words of the West Bengal Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty, 'All yellow taxis will be phased out by the end of 2027.'
Since 1962, Ambassador-type cars, local models of the English sedan 'Oxford 3', produced by Morris in Great Britain, have been operating on the streets of Kolkata. The first batches produced by Hindustan Motors had defects in manufacturing, which made them targets for ridicule, and critics claimed that they were the only vehicles not attracting complaints. However, the Indian manufacturer later eliminated these problems and produced this model until 2014, thanks to its durability, it continued to be used successfully.
A representative of the taxi association in West Bengal, Sandip Roy, noted that 'the vehicle is durable, and parts and servicing are quite cheap, and if anything breaks down, it will be easy to find a good mechanic.' However, the requirements for combating climate change and reduced emissions present a new dynamic, especially considering India’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.