1,000 more taxis to ease shortage

Dubai: One thousand new taxis will be added to roads in Dubai this year to help cope with the acute shortage of cabs in the city, said a senior official.

"The decision has been taken after mounting complaints about a shortage of taxis in the city," said Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Agency (RTA). Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of the RTA, also expressed his concern about the taxi service.

"I agree that the taxi service in Dubai is not up to the mark. It should be improved," he said and instructed the Taxi Agency of the RTA to come up with immediate plans to solve the problem. He said residents and tourists in the city are now facing an acute shortage of cabs, which is not acceptable.

In addition to adding more taxis, the RTA is in the process of hiring at least 2,500 more drivers to run a double shift of its taxi fleet. Currently, around 500 out of a total 3,500 taxis owned by the Taxi Agency of the RTA operate round the clock while the rest of them operate on one shift.

Shortage of taxis

Around 3,000 taxis operated by five franchise companies in Dubai also operate round the clock.

Al Mulla said the Taxi Agency has already purchased 500 new taxis recently while it is going to add 500 more taxis in the coming months. Al Mulla said that a shortage of taxis happened because of a dramatic increase in demand over the last year. Even the number of telephone reservations has increased from around 6,000 per day to 12,000 per day. "We had decided not to add more taxis about three years ago but now we are forced to do it because of the high demand," he added.

He said that the RTA does not want to have more taxis on Dubai's roads because it is working on a massive public transport project of Dubai Metro and public buses. "Currently, only five per cent of people use public transport because there are only buses for mass transport. But once the metro is operational in September 2009, they will have the option of metro, buses, water transport and taxis," he explained.

The RTA aims to increase the use of public transport from the current five per cent to 30 per cent in Dubai.

ON ROAD
Being refused a ride

"No taxi driver can refuse a ride for a short distance," said Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Taxi Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority.

He said passengers should complain to the RTA if they have a bad experience with drivers or they are refused a ride. In case of any complaints against drivers or suggestions, a passenger should call Dubai Taxi at 04-2080888 or log on to the RTA's website www.rta.ae to fill an online complaint form. Passengers can also call the RTA call centre number 8009090 to complain.

It is only a matter of having the RTA taking strict action against drivers who refuse to take passengers to short distances or congested areas.
Abraham
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 10:05

It will be a relief for everyone if there are more taxis on Dubai roads. It takes an avarage of 30 to 40 minutes to wait for a taxi in some areas of Dubai.
Noor
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 09:13

Increasing the number of vehicles may address the shortage in taxis, however, this may increase traffic in most areas, especially if these taxi drivers would refuse to take passengers and just keep on going around the area to look for the best fare.
Eric
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 09:00

Some taxi drivers are taking longer routes when a commuter wants to travel to a short distance.
Nalin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 08:40

The RTA also needs to look into improving taxi service in Al Aweer. In the early morning and at around 5pm I can hardly find a taxi.
George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 07:15

This is a very good move by the RTA, but the main question is: What will be the use of adding more taxis when taxi drivers do not stop and/or refuse to take passengers?
Raynold
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 29, 2007, 04:30