SOURCE : THE NATIONAL

 
Abu Dhabi’s taxi rates are currently the lowest in the Gulf region, according to the taxi regulator

ABU DHABI - Feb. 12: Taxi fares will rise by 30 per cent as part of a set of sweeping changes designed to streamline pricing and combat meter fraud, Abu Dhabi transport chiefs said today.

Daytime starting fares will increase from Dh2.60 to Dh3 while the per kilometre rate will rise by 54 per cent, to one dirham each kilometre.

Transport officials have estimated that this will mean a 30 per cent rise in the cost of an average journey.

The new rates will take effect from Sunday and only relate to the city’s fleet of more than 3,000 silver cabs. Fares for Abu Dhabi’s gold and white cabs, which are slowly being phased out and will be off roads by 2012, are unlikely to change.

Pensioners and people with special needs will also get half price travel subsidised by the Government.

The double-fare pricing system for journeys outside the capital will also be abolished.

Travellers will pay one dirham per kilometre for the first 50kms rising to Dh1.5 per kilometre thereafter.

Abdullah al Sabbagh, the general manager of TransAD, the Government’s taxi department, said the new system would simplify fare tariffs and stop fare meter cheats.

“The new tariffs will eliminate the abuse of the meter. All the driver has to do now is switch the meter on and off,” he said.

“Rather than the driver setting different tariffs at different times of the day or for different journeys, everything will be calculated automatically.

“There has been a problem with drivers abusing the system, but I wouldn’t call it a big problem.”

Passengers travelling at night will pay a starting fare of Dh3.60 and Dh1.20 per kilometre.