End of an era: Mumbai bids farewell to its iconic kaali-peeli Premier Padmini taxi

After the phasing out of the iconic diesel-powered double-decker bus on September 15, Mumbai bid farewell to its last registered kaali-peeli Premier Padmini taxicab on Sunday as its 20-year lifespan had ended. The vehicle, bearing the registration number MH-01-JA-2556, is owned by Prabhadevi resident Abdul Kareem Karsekar, who once had seven such automobiles.

For nearly 60 years, kaali-peeli Premier Padminis have been synonymous with the metropolis. But they had been supplanted by vehicles manufactured by Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Santro and other firms.

Age limit

Anthony Quadros, general secretary of the Mumbai Taximen's Union, told mid-day that the age limit of old cabs in Mumbai used to be 25 years initially, but in 2013, the Maharashtra government reduced it to 20 years.

Abdul Kareem Karsekar and Raees Ahmed stand next to their respective Premier Padminis on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje

"Manufactured by Premier Automobile Limit (PAL), Premier Padminis were introduced as cabs in 1964 and never faced hiccups till their production stopped in 2001. After this, procuring spares became a problem. Around 2003, dealers managed to obtain spares and registrations began again," he said.

As per transport department records, Karsekar's cab was registered on October 29, 2003, at the Tardeo Regional Transport Office and though all the required permits are in place, a vehicle cannot legally operate as it completes a span of 20 years.

"It is difficult to get spare parts and maintain the vehicle, but I would love to keep it if I am allowed to. I will try and seek a possible extension from the RTO," Karsekar, who has been driving taxis since 1988, said.

‘Give us some time'

Karsekar and Raees Ahmed, a taxi driver whose Premier Padmini recently got age-barred, are appealing to the government to allow them some time to revive their source of income.

Karsekar's permits

Speaking about their predicament, Karsekar said, "All my life I have been driving cabs and cannot think of not having one. I had seven cabs at a time and now left with one Padmini and Maruti Eeco. I have raised my entire family on this. I have three children and one of them is in Std 10. His school fee is R38,000. Then there are other expenses. My all other documents like the PUC certificate are valid and updated. I also paid the green tax and always kept things updated. I will be going out of job only because the vehicle age limit has expired. I have never taken any extra money from any customer. People just love this cab. Even foreigners pose with it and give handsome tips. If you tell me that I cannot drive my vehicle from tomorrow, it will make a dent in my earnings. From morning to evening, Raees and I have been giving interviews and visiting TV studios. I want to follow all the regulations, but how do we go ahead from here?"

Ahmed said he used to drive his car for 15 years and this was the only way he could run his household and get his brothers and his children educated. "I stay at Saat Rasta and do not have any other vehicle, unlike Abdul. This is my sole source of income. All my permits are valid. It is only the registration date of the vehicle that has lapsed. Give us one year, so that we can raise funds and buy a new vehicle. We cannot be out of a job like this. We can ask for contributions and loans, but we need time," he said.

Historian looks back

City historian Deepak Rao said, "It is a nostalgic moment. I vividly remember that during the early 60s, huge models such as Hillman and Austin were used as cabs on the roads of Bombay for a fare of six annas (about 38 paise). Then there used to be bigger and more majestic models used as cabs by businessmen. When the Premier arrived, it felt very small but it was later standardised and it's now going away to make way for more variants."

Oct 29
Day in 2003 when Karsekar's cab was registered