The government is currently making final preparations to introduce the taxi line service, but the exact date of the service cannot be disclosed yet, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen said on Thursday.
Ameen had previously said that the full-EV taxi line will launch in the first week of July. Then in an exclusive interview to Public Service Media (PSM) on June 8, Ameen said the government will not be able to meet the original deadline, but taxi line service will launch before the end of August.
However, the taxi line service has not started on either of the two deadlines given by the minister.
Therefore, responding to a Sun inquiry, the minister said that the work of preparing the cars for service is now in the final stage and some parts of the cars have been ordered to be changed.
“Disabled children also have difficulties in boarding cars, so we have an intention to bring such a modification to some cars,” he said.
A car that will be used in the government's taxi line. (Photo/Transport Ministry)
He did not give an exact date for the service, but said it would be announced later.
Ameen had earlier said that the taxi line would include cars of various sizes, including those that can fit into the narrow streets of Male’ city. The service will be available when the public needs it most instead of at the convenience of taxi drivers, he said.
The government signed an MoU with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and the Ministry of Transport on February 15 to launch taxi services in Male’ city.
In context, the issue of taxi drivers choosing specific routes to drive people and charging various amounts has become a growing concern in Male.