Sharjah: Riding a taxi has become more expensive since Sharjah Transport implemented a minimum taxi fare of Dh10 effective from October 1.
Residents expressed their dismay over the changes that were brought into effect as of Friday, and which also include an increase in the taxi tariff from Dh1 for every 650 metres to Dh1 for every 620 metres. Meanwhile, the starting fare will remain the same at Dh3.50 during the day and Dh4 at night.
"I live very close to work and pay around Dh4.50 for a taxi. When I had to go to work [yesterday] morning, I told the taxi driver to waste time and drive around until the meter reached Dh10 because I felt that I had to get back my money's worth," said Maher B., from Algeria.
"The maximum I had to pay for a trip, from the office to my home, was Dh6.
"I find the new system very unjust because while the cost of transportation has increased, my salary has not. When the weather starts cooling down I think I will leave home earlier and walk to work," said Fawzia, who lives near Al Rolla.
Taxi drivers also explained that they were losing out on a number of customers due to the Dh10 minimum fare, and said that the changes did not benefit them at all.
Monthly target
"Passengers are unhappy but what about us? I will not be able to reach my monthly target and that means less income for me.
"On Friday, there were two women who got inside the taxi but when I explained about the Dh10 minimum fare, they quickly got out. I drive nearly all day and struggle to get passengers," said a driver of Advantage Taxi.
A senior official at Sharjah Transport explained that the introduction of a minimum fare aims to be beneficial to passengers as well as to the five taxi franchise companies since it will enable companies to improve their quality of service.
Last February, the authority hiked the taxi tariff from Dh1 for every 800 metres covered to Dh1 for every 650 metres covered. In December 2008, Sharjah Transport implemented a minimum fare of Dh20 for commuters travelling from Sharjah to Dubai.
Abdullah Al Zari, Director General of Sharjah Transport, attributed the minimum fare and increase in tariff due to the recent hike in fuel price.
