Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT), which granted licenses to a few app-based companies to manage taxi services at commercial centers, hotels, and Port Sultan Qaboos, has announced the new fare structure, which will be determined by Aber mobile-taxi meter.
From Malls
Starting Fare: 300bz
Every Km: 130bz
Waiting charges: After 10 minutes, 50bz per minute
From Port Sultan Qaboos
Starting Fare: RO1.5
Every Km: 250
Waiting charges: After 10 minutes, 50bz per minute
From hotels
Starting Fare: RO1.5
Every Km: 250
Waiting charges: After 10 minutes, 50bz per minute
Marhaba and Oman Taxi will operate from hotels, Hala, OmanTaxi, Otaxi, Hala, Tasleem will operate from malls while Marahaba will operate from Port Sultan Qaboos.
The Ministry recently implemented the decision to include taxi owners at airports to operate under two app-based operators as part of the efforts in the first phase of its initiative to improve the public transportation system.
The ministry stated the second phase will cover tourist complexes, hotels, commercial centers, and ports beginning from November 1.
The third phase will cover white and orange street taxis from January 1, which are currently mandated to operate as per a mobile-based meter called Aber.
MTCIT recently issued new rules for practicing taxi activity, based on the Land Transport Law issued by Royal Decree 10/2016, which also covers the age of taxis.
The Ministry stipulated that to practice taxi activity, a light driving license must be 3 years old from the date of issuance, and the operator's monthly salary must not exceed RO600 if an employee is in the private sector.
The age must not be less than 21 years and not more than 60 years. One-year extensions can be given based on a medical report from accredited health institutions indicating his ability to drive a taxi.
It is also required that the age of the taxi vehicle must not exceed 7 years from the date of the year of manufacture to carry out operations at airports, ports, and hotels while the age of the taxi vehicles should not exceed 10 years from the date of the year of manufacture to practice the activity in the public places and commercial centers.
The Ministry stressed the need for everyone to reconcile their situation before September 1, 2024.
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