Taxi centers in Male' City have formally requested Transport Minister Aishath Nahula to raise taxi fares.
The letter addressed to the minister said a meeting was held among taxi center owners and those working in the taxi industry regarding taxi fares on February 22. During the meeting in which sixteen taxi centers participated, it was agreed to install taxi meters and to implement the change, the letter said.
'This is the private sector providing public services. All taxi centers and taxi drivers agree that we have the choice to arrange installation of meters on our taxis, and setting our own fares,' the letter said.
The letter further said drivers are deprived of rights assured for them through the law and face several challenges. Some policies followed by the Transport Ministry have caused drivers and taxi service providers to lose trust in the ministry and has created animosity against the ministry, the letter said. This, in turn, has caused the public to lose faith in the taxi service, it said.
Therefore, the letter said that taxi centers are requesting a meeting with Minister Nahula to address the issues on hand. If a meeting is not arranged within five days of receiving the letter, all drivers in Male' City will go to the ministry and demand to meet the minister without an appointment, it said.
Earlier on Sunday, taxi centers said the current surge in oil prices is causing losses to both the centers and their drivers. Therefore, the centers will be raising taxi fares effective from March 10, with or without ministry approval, they had said.
The new fares proposed by taxi centers:
Rides within Male' City: MVR 30
Rides within Hulhumale' Phase II: MVR 25
Rides within Hulhumale' Phase I: MVR 25
Rides between Hulhumale' Phase I and Phase II: MVR 40
Rides between Hulhumale' Phase II and Male': MVR 120
Rides between Hulhumale' Phase I and Male': MVR 100
Rides between Hulhule Airport and Male': MVR 80
Rides between Hulhule Airport and Hulhumale': MVR 80
Rides between Hulhule Airport Seaplane Terminal and Male': MVR 100
Rides between Hulhule Airport Seaplane Terminal and Hulhumale' Phase I: MVR 100
Rides between Hulhule Airport Seaplane Terminal and Hulhumale' Phase II: MVR 120
An extra charge of MVR 5 will be applicable for rides after 0000 hrs.
