Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has said that the new prices set for taxi services in Male’ City will be implemented without any changes and action will be taken against those who work outside the law.

State Minister at the Transport Ministry, Mohamed Zuhair, told One Online today that the prices were set by the government after discussing numerous people and based on the fuel spent on the fares.

And so, the price of taxi fares in the Male’ City area was set by the Ministry of Transport and will be coming to effect as announced starting from 7 August 2019. State Minister Zuhair said that despite the complaints from taxi drivers, the fares won’t be changed and those who work outside it will be facing legal action as per the set regulation.

Highlighting that taxi drivers shared their concerns with the high-ranking officials of the Transport Ministry today, State Minister Zuhair said that taxi drivers shared concerns on the opportunity for private cars to do taxi fares at meeting this morning at 11 a.m. and they have no concerns regarding the new fares.

Taxi drivers raised concerns regarding the three, newly approved, applications for taxis with private cars, thus creating less demand for taxi cars. However, the Ministry noted that it is how things work in other countries as well and with 1200 approves taxis in Male’ area, the public still struggle to find a taxi.

Zuhair said that permission had to be granted for application-based car services because the taxi service is not even close to where it should be for the population.

The new taxi fares set by the Transport Ministry as follows:

  • Hulhule’ to Male’ : MVR 60
  • Male’ to Hulhule’ : MVR 60
  • Male’ to Hulhumale’ : MVR 75
  • Hulhumale’ to Male’ : MVR 75

Charging extra after 12 a.m. or for using the trunk (boot) of the car have been banned under the new regulation.

Some taxi drivers are planning a protest against the new prices on Wednesday. They have also filed a suit at the Civil Court to stop the regulation from coming into effect.