Taxi issue needs meters, not more cars: Drivers

The Taxi Drivers Association has said today that the issue of taxi shortage will not be resolved through increasing the number of taxi cabs. They maintain that introduction of a metered taxi system would be key to resolving the issue. 

In a press conference held yesterday, Drivers Association President Ibrahim Niyaz said that the association had conducted a survey on the introduction of metered taxis. He cited findings of the survey and claimed that the most feasible solution for the taxi issue in the Male' region is to introduce metered taxis. Niyaz added that the government introducing a taxi fleet without deliberating with taxi drivers would lead to failure. 

"What is most feasible here is to introduce taxi meters. Simply adding more cabs without meters infringes on our rights and worsens our situation. It won't solve the shortage of taxis in Male'," Niyaz said. 

The drivers' criticism of the planned government taxi line has come in the wake of MTCC announcing yesterday that they are seeking 407 taxi drivers for their fleet. 

The planned taxi line, which will be overseen by MTCC, will offer taxi services through a mobile application, and will be available around the clock. 

Although Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen earlier announced that the government taxi line would be launched in July this year, the service is still not operational. 

According to the announcement by MTCC, they are seeking 407 drivers, 122 of whom are to be hired on a part-time basis. 

The deadline for application is December 17. 

MTCC said that in the hiring process, priority will be given to those already on the Taxi Drivers Register at the Transport Ministry. 

Although hiring has been announced, the government is yet to confirm a launch date for the service.