Mwasalat taxis to run from Dec 12

Muscat, Nov 22 - The Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) will start the operation of Mwasalat taxis from December 12. In the first phase, the service will be available at Muscat International Airport, commercial complexes, malls and as taxi-on-demand in the Governorate of Muscat. The service will be supported by a mobile application on App Store and Google Play that will allow pre-booking and provide details of the ride. The vehicles will have sophisticated meters that will protect users’ rights and provide details of the trip, including cost and distance travelled. On the fares, Mwasalat said it will announce it prior to the commencement of the actual operations. “Each destination will have a different price. Fares at the airport will be different from that at the commercial complexes or for pay-on-demand.” In order to test the effectiveness of systems and devices in vehicles, Mwasalat will be plying its taxis on the streets of Muscat from the beginning of next week until the date of operation. It is also an attempt to familiarise the public with the new vehicles with its distinctive identity. During the trial period, Mwasalat taxis can be used at the commercial complexes as well as booked through mobile apps. The transport company will soon announce when the app can be downloaded for use. The public is upbeat about the service. “We are looking for a modern taxi system that reflects Omanis’ manners,” said Bin Rashid, a regular user of taxi service. Olaiya al Zadjali, a frequent cab user, said: “I hope the meter is not programmed to start from RO 3” and called for “reasonable fares”. Sultan al Hinai, a customer, said airport taxis charge more than their counterparts in Asian and European countries. “I wish we can afford new fares. We are eagerly waiting.” Earlier, Mwasalat had made special offers to the taxi drivers to join its fleet. It had agreed to provide them with free technical systems and tariff meters, vehicle painting as per the new design, training to use smart devices and customer service. Zainab al Nassri