JAIPUR, JUNE 6: In its drive to restore to the Pink City of Jaipur some of its lost charm, the Rajasthan Government has decided to resurrect vintage beauties with exquisite curves to woo tourists - particularly those with dollars - on the roads. These are vintage cars which the state government is planning to introduce as taxis and win the hearts - and of course cash - of the tourists.Rajasthan Tourism already operates the train, Palace on Wheels, which is very popular with foreign tourists. Also old forts, palaces and havelis have been restored and converted into hotels and museums to attract tourists. The initiative to put vintage cars on the road for commercial use coincides with a massive on-going World Bank-funded scheme aimed at restoring the original character of Jaipur.According to a transport department spokesman, by agreeing to allow the use of vintage cars as taxis, the authorities have conceded a four-year-old demand of their owners. Rajasthan has at least 250 vintage cars, 50 to 70 years old, with Jaipur alone having around 100.The spokesman disclosed that it had been decided in principle that the transport department would charge each car a monthly road tax of Rs 100, while the fare would be fixed later. These would ply on selected routes to avoid heavy traffic.Cars manufactured before 1939 fall in the vintage category while those manufactured later are given the classic tag. Rajasthan's impressive line-up includes a 1931 Bentley, owned by Gayatri Devi, former `Rajmata' of Jaipur, a 1935 Rolls Royce, owned by Gaj Singh, former ruler of Jodhpur, a 1931 Studebaker and a 1933 Dodge, belonging to Sudhir Kasliwal, a 1938 Cadillac of the state motor garage, a 1936 Austin-1 of Sanjay Dutta, a 1931 Ford-A of Zafar Shama and a 1921 Wolsley and a 1938 Dodge of Ghani Auto. The oldest vintage car, a 1923 Austin-7, belongs to Rawat Enterprises.The classic category includes a 1947 Buick-8 belonging to Yuvraj Shivraj Singh of Jodhpur, a 1947 Oldsmobile, owned by Bhagwati Singh Barwara, a 1949 Morris Minor, belonging to Umakant Pareek, a 1949 Chevorlet of DN Kasliwal and a 1941 Packard-110 of Sudhir Kasliwal.The state will be the first in the country to have vintage cars plying as taxis. And in about a month's time, they would join its camels, elephants and a train taking the tourists on joyrides.
