Mumbai`s iconic Premier Padmini taxis retire from city streets

Updated On: 29 October, 2023 11:20 PM IST | Sanjana Deshpande

Mumbai`s renowned `Premier Padmini` taxis will cease operations in the city starting Monday, October 30, marking the end of an era for these iconic black-and-yellow cabs, colloquially known as kaali peelis. Pics/PTI

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<p>The decision follows recent retirement of the legendary red double-decker diesel buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.</p>

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The decision follows recent retirement of the legendary red double-decker diesel buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.

<p>As per the announcement by a transport department official, the last Premier Padmini taxi was officially registered at the Tardeo Regional Transport Office (RTO), which oversees the island city of Mumbai.</p>

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As per the announcement by a transport department official, the last Premier Padmini taxi was officially registered at the Tardeo Regional Transport Office (RTO), which oversees the island city of Mumbai.

<p>Given that the city imposes a 20-year age limit for cabs, Mumbai will officially bid adieu to the Premier Padmini taxis from Monday onward; these taxis have been part of the transport system for six decades.</p>

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Given that the city imposes a 20-year age limit for cabs, Mumbai will officially bid adieu to the Premier Padmini taxis from Monday onward; these taxis have been part of the transport system for six decades.

<p>The simultaneous retirement of these two once-ubiquitous and integral modes of public transportation has left transportation enthusiasts in Mumbai deeply saddened. Some have even called for the preservation of at least one `Premier Padmini` on the road or in a museum.</p>

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The simultaneous retirement of these two once-ubiquitous and integral modes of public transportation has left transportation enthusiasts in Mumbai deeply saddened. Some have even called for the preservation of at least one `Premier Padmini` on the road or in a museum.

<p>A few years ago, the Mumbai Taximen`s Union, one of the city`s largest taxi driver unions, had appealed to the government to conserve at least one `kaali-peeli` (black-and-yellow) taxi but without success, as reported by PTI.</p>

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A few years ago, the Mumbai Taximen`s Union, one of the city`s largest taxi driver unions, had appealed to the government to conserve at least one `kaali-peeli` (black-and-yellow) taxi but without success, as reported by PTI.

<p>Mumbai currently boasts over 40,000 black-and-yellow taxis, although, in the late 1990s, the number stood at about 63,000, which included the air-conditioned "cool cabs" featuring a distinctive `blue and silver` colour scheme.</p>

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Mumbai currently boasts over 40,000 black-and-yellow taxis, although, in the late 1990s, the number stood at about 63,000, which included the air-conditioned "cool cabs" featuring a distinctive `blue and silver` colour scheme.

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Mumbai`s iconic Premier Padmini taxis retire from city streets

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High tidal waves in Mumbai delay Lalbaugcha Raja`s visarjan