SCRAPPAGE
The end is nigh for the ubiquitous yellow taxis of Kolkata as the city fathers strive to improve air quality. Many owner drivers have already been given the date they must remove their vehicle from the road, facing considerable financial penalties if they don’t.
With increased competition in recent years from Uber style taxis and the motorcycle taxis, that are cheaper and quicker, eking a living has not been easy. This so, few drivers will have the means to buy another vehicle and the $4000 scrappage payment won’t go very far. It will result in hardship for many in a city where jobs are scarce. I feel sorry for them.
The car is the Ambassador, introduced Into india in the 1950’s by the Hindustan Motors at their plant at Uttapara near Kolkata. It was built with assembly line tools imported from the UK. The model was basically the same as the Morris Oxford Mk 3 manufactured in Oxford, the University city in England. It was designed by Alec Issigonis, famous for designing the mini just a few years later in 1959. With body and engine tweaks the Ambassador was manufactured until 2014. In the mid 1980’s around 66% of all cars sold in India were Ambassadors. By 2000 it was down to just 10%.
As well as being the mainstay of the taxi firms it was also used extensively by the Indian government, painted white.
Kolkata will not be same without the “Amby”.
