Business down by 10 % during December – Taxi Centers

30 December 2007
Report: Soodh

Taxi Centers have revealed that business is down by 10% during this month. Centers reveal that this is a normal phenomenon as this part of the year coincides with school holidays and many have gone out of the country or to the atolls for holidays. Centers also reveal that normally during December, as compared to other months of the year, business usually goes down considerably.

Decreased business cannot be blamed on the recent increase in taxi fares but that can only be confirmed when the new academic new year commence.

However taxi driver informed Miadhu that business is not bad at all and even with the recent increase in taxi fare on the 1 of December, he hardly gets free time. He informed that most occupants now a days offer him Mrf 20 note or more and that he hardly sees small change.

Transport Ministry recently authorized the increase in taxi fares effective 1of December.

Transport Ministry said although the ministry stipulated the maximum fare per taxi trip and maximum charge a taxi center may levy on a taxi, the right to charge lower than stipulated is always the prerogative of the taxi center or the driver.

Transport Ministry also revealed that rates which were revised on 1 December were introduced in 2004 and that since then price petrol has increased 80.73% per liter.

Taxis now charge MRF 20 for a trip between 6.00is to 12.00 midnight and MRF 25.00 from midnight till 6.00am. If baggage is carried an additional MRF 5 is charged. Hourly charges are revised as MRF110 per hour, MRF 550 for 6 hours, MRF 840 per 12 hours and MRF 1400 for 24 hours. A taxi center charges MRF600 from each taxi operating under the center’s license.

Transport Ministry has revealed the fares were revised after discussions with all concerned. Transport Ministry also reported that the main reason for the increase was due high fuel prices and increased price of spare parts required for proper maintenance of taxis.