Mumbai's adored Padmini taxis near end of the road

MUMBAI - They were named after a legendary Indian queen and were synonymous with Mumbai for half a century but the last Premier Padmini taxis will soon embark on their final journey - to the scrapyard.

The compact black-and-yellow cabs, based on an Italian Fiat and often boasting elaborately patterned interiors, were once ubiquitous across the congested roads of India's financial capital and have featured in countless Bollywood movies.

Around 65,000 Padminis plied Mumbai at their peak in the mid-1990s but a gradual phasing out in favor of newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles has meant that today only some 300 splutter around and officials predict they will disappear completely next year.

For many the passing of the Indian-built vehicle, a product of the Asian giant's closed economy of the 1960s and a classic, albeit now rusting, car which continues to enthrall foreign tourists, will be the end of an unforgettable chapter in Mumbai's history.

"It really is an iconic car because for so long it was the only vehicle used by taxi operators here. It must have been the largest fleet in the world," said A. L. Quadros, a taxi union chief in Mumbai.

The first Padminis, an Indian take on the Fiat 1100 Delight, rolled off production lines at the Premier Automobiles Limited factory in Mumbai, then called Bombay, in 1964 under an licensing agreement with the famous Italian car manufacturer.

They were initially known as "Fiat taxis" before being renamed Padmini in 1973 after mythical Hindu queen Rani Padmini, who legend has it lived during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Iconic characters

Not known for their speed or boot space, Padminis are characterized by their low ceilings, large gear stick to the left of the steering wheel and quirky silver-colored door handles which require passengers to trickily lift up and push to get out.

Today, many have colorful carpeted ceilings and seat covers while some boast bright, multi-colored neon lights which illuminate the inside of the cab at night.

But they are also known for dodgy brakes, indicators that fail to work, doors that don't close properly and a tendency to let in water during Mumbai's four-month summer monsoon.

Not everyone is upset about the Premier Padmini fading into history.

Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee said: "Modern cars are light years ahead in terms of technology. The Padmini had nothing going for it by the end, nostalgia apart."

Agence France-presse

Indian taxi driver Dawood Khan, 80, stands next to his Premiere Padmini taxi after dropping off a customer in Mumbai.Indranil Mukherjee / Agence Francepresse