Taxis notified to have vacancy signs by 15 April

Transport Authority of Maldives has notified taxis to place a sign on top of the car to indicate vacancy to passangers, before 15 April 2014, as required by the taxi regulation.

“The light-up taxi boards have to fit the authority’s standards. Places producing or selling these taxi boards will have a special permit issued by this authority,” Transport Authority of Maldives said. The authority has scheduled an information session for taxi sign vendors for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Regulation on taxis, published on 16 December last year, imposed fixed taxi fees of MVR 25 per trip between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. and MVR 30 per trip between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

The regulation also allows drivers to collect an addition fee for placing items inside the boot, restricted to MVR 5 for a single item and MVR 10 for two or more items. However, the regulation does not restrict the driver from waiving or reducing the fees.

In addition the regulation obligates the drivers to exhibit the name and contact details of their taxi centers, along with a taxi top sign indicating red if the taxi is occupied, or green if the taxi is vacant.