Authority to set up taxi complaint SMS service

Transport Authority of Maldives has decided to establish a complaints system against taxis where customers can lodge complaints via SMS.

Chairman of the Transport Authority Abdul Rasheed Nafiz said that the authority has been receiving an increasing number of complaints against taxis.

“Picking up another while carrying a customer. Overcharging. Playing loud and annoying music and saying vulgarities through taxi radio sets, and numerous other complaints,” said the Transport Authority Chairman, detailing the types of complaints received by the authority.

He said that the new taxi regulation requires each taxi to display contact and other details regarding the taxi and that this would allow customers to send an SMS, with the details, to lodge complaints with the authority. Such complaints will be investigated by the authority and the relevant taxi company, Nafiz said.

The new regulation on taxi’s published mid last month fixed taxi fees to MVR 25 per trip during daylight hours and required drivers to exhibit names and contact details of their taxi centers, along with a taxi top sign indicating a red light for occupied or a green light if the taxi is vacant.