Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Driver, taxi passengers can agree on fare

Untitled-1
Untitled-1
minus
plus

Muscat, Feb 6 - While allowing taxi drivers and passengers to have a prior agreement on the fare, the government has clarified the electronic meter has to be turned on during a trip. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MoTC) said the installation of meters in orange and white taxis is mandatory with fares to be charged as per the ministerial decision 195/2018. It, however, said the rule ensures the rights of both parties — passenger and driver. “The driver will be subject to penalties if he fails to follow the rules, including the use of meters.”


This implies drivers and passengers can agree on the fare, but the meter has to be used. The trip will be ‘deemed free’ if the driver refuses to turn on the meter. The fare has been fixed at 300 baisa at the start of the trip, after which customers will be charged 130 baisa for every km. A minimum of RO 1 will be charged for each trip from June. In case of multiple passengers, fares shall be divided among them. Waiting charges will be 50 baisa per minute, while the first five minutes will be free. The taxi driver is obliged to operate the meter at the start of the journey. The decision is based on the Land Transport Law and its Executive Regulations, which was revealed in November.


Under the rules, all taxi owners will have to obtain a permit from MoTC. The electronic meters should be installed from June. Tenders have been floated for the supply of electronic meters, with costs to be borne by the taxi owners. With the implementation of the Land Transport Law, the monitoring of the activities of taxis will be moved to MoTC. The Royal Oman Police’s (ROP) role will be limited to vehicle inspection and registration. All taxis must have an operational card, the cost of which will not exceed RO 15.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon