Ministry of Transport has threatened action against taxis that charge higher than the agreed fares amid the ongoing battle over taxi rates in the Greater Male' Area.
In a statement issued today, the Transport Ministry said that taxi service is a regulated service in which registering a taxi, approving its service, and setting fares are meant to protect the right of those receiving the service as well as those who provide the service.
The Ministry acknowledged that it had received a letter signed by owners of 16 taxi centers in which they had requested a hike in taxi fares on the account of the rise in oil prices.
Highlighting this, the Ministry said that the taxi service is directly connected to the public and is now considered a basic service. The Ministry also said that this means that it has to bear the responsibility of ensuring the rights of both the public and the taxi service providers.
It said that in this regard, under the taxi regulation it is in the Ministry's power to set the taxi fare and that taxis and taxi centers do not have the power to set the fares.
The Ministry further said that out of the concerns expressed by the taxi drivers, it would act to resolve those concerns that can be solved immediately and for others, both parties must hold discussions.
Transport Ministry urged taxi drivers not to charge fares higher than the ones now implemented and to continue their services without interruptions. It added that the Ministry would take action against those taxis as well as taxi centers that charge higher fares.
Taxi drivers operating in the Greater Male' Area had been sporadically holding strikes to protest the government's decision not to approve the increased fares.
