BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA | 15 JULY 2026
The latest joint initiative of DVC and JU has rekindled fresh hopes of the revival of the iconic yellow ambassador taxis, which have been a symbol of Kolkata since centuries. In recent years their numbers have gone down drastically to less than even half.In the early 2000s, there were an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 yellow Hindustan Motors
Ambassador taxis operating in Kolkata, while now it has come down to almost 3000.
Former Chairman of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), S. Suresh Kumar along with the Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, Professor Chiranjeeb Bhattacharjee has jointly unveiled the first prototype of the first Green – Yellow- Electric Taxi at a function held at the
Ultadanga headquarters in Kolkata of the Indian power behemoth. With this new technological upgradation fresh hopes have rekindled for the revival of the stranded thousands of Kolkata’s iconic Yellow Ambassador taxis, which had become synonymous with the vibrant culture of the City of Joy since decades.
Retrofitted Electric Vehicles (EVs) will be a game-changer in modern India, as they will deliver affordable, eco-friendly transit by upgrading the cars already on the road ,without disturbing the current running old fleet, feel experts.
Where heritage meets sustainability, and a landmark step towards sustainable mobility, DVC, in collaboration with Jadavpur University, has unveiled the prototype of the iconic Kolkata Yellow Taxi retrofitted into a fully electric vehicle — the ‘Green Yellow Taxi’.
This pioneering initiative under DVC’s Research and Development programme aims to promote affordable and sustainable e-mobility by transforming existing ICE vehicles into EVs through innovative retrofitting solutions.
The prototype features – Electric motor-drive system, IoT-enabled smart monitoring, Air-conditioned comfort, Rapid acceleration and high city driving range, Swappable battery model for urban mobility etc
Speaking during the occasion , the former Chairman of DVC, Suresh Kumar has said that ”The project reflects DVC’s commitment towards innovation, sustainability and collaborative research for a greener future. Together, we drive towards cleaner mobility and a sustainable
tomorrow.”
The latest innovation is a collaboration between the industry and academia and the research is being led by Professor Amitava Gupta from the Department of Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, alongside a multidisciplinary research team.
The unveiling ceremony of the new retrofitted Green Yellow Electric Ambassador Taxi was attended by S. Suresh Kumar, IAS, Chairman, DVC and Professor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, Vice-Chancellor, Jadavpur University, S. K. Panda, Member (Technical), DVC, Sadananda
Mukherjee, Member (Finance), DVC, Riki Biswas, CEO of Pointo.
This project was developed under the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) Research & Development initiative. Project Title- Electric & Plug-In Vehicles: Digital twin development to study the feasibility of retrofitted e-mobility and technological requirements for its
sustainability.
Core Objectives- Build Digital Twins: Create virtual replicas of electric and plug-in vehicles, Assess Retrofitting: Evaluate the feasibility of converting internal combustion vehicles to electric, Analyze Sustainability: Determine the long-term technological
requirements for sustainable e-mobility.
Kolkata’s iconic yellow taxi fleet has declined significantly. Following strict government mandates enforcing a 15-year age limit on commercial vehicles, the fleet dropped from about 7,000 classic Ambassador cabs to fewer than 3,000 metered yellow taxis.
To preserve this city heritage, the previous West Bengal government had introduced newer, eco-friendly models (such as the Maruti Suzuki WagonR) painted in the classic yellow, operating via the state-run Yatri Sathi app.
From vintage classics to modern cinema, Bollywood films frequently spotlight Kolkata’s iconic yellow Ambassador taxis. Far beyond mere props, these vehicles act as moving backdrops and emotional symbols, capturing the very soul of the city.
Some of the most prominent feature films include – Abhijan (1962),a masterpiece directed by maestro Satyajit Ray, featuring Soumitra Chatterjee as a disillusioned, disgraced taxi driver who buys a yellow cab to work in rural Bengal and 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981),the Aparna Sen classic highlights the romantic and nostalgic associations of the
Ambassador.
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