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Errant taxi drivers risk losing job, warns RTA

DUBAI — With the taxi drivers mostly dodging the passengers who wish to travel to the neighbouring emirates on various pretexts, the Roads and Transport Authority has warned that any form of misconduct could result in the termination of their services.

Abdul Aziz Malik, CEO of the Dubai Taxi, told Khaleej Times that the RTA would not hesitate to terminate the services of taxi drivers if they are found to have misbehaved with a customer.

Malik added that the RTA was well aware of the problems faced by the people while travelling to other emirates, especially Sharjah, and talks were on with the counterparts in Sharjah about some change in the existing rules so that the problems of the passengers could be solved.

Earlier, senior officials of the Sharjah Transport also stated that discussions were on with the RTA in this connection. Abdullah Mohammed Al Zari, Director-General of Sharjah Transport said, “We are holding talks with the RTA to allow the Sharjah taxis to take passengers on their return journey. The Dubai taxis can also do the same. Most of the problems will be solved if the existing rule is waived.”

“We are well aware about the problems the passengers are facing. There are many passengers who don’t know that no taxi driver can refuse to take them to any destination. Also, if at all a taxi driver refuses to take a passenger to a particular destination and misbehaves with the passenger, complaints can be lodged with the RTA toll free number 800-9090,” he said.

“They just need to give the colour of the taxi and the number. If it is found that the particular driver has got more than two complaints lodged earlier, the RTA will not hesitate to terminate his services,” he added.

Many passengers complained that the taxi drivers don’t take them to the neighbouring emirates. “Once I stopped a Sharjah Taxi and asked him to take me to the Deira City Centre. The driver was adamant and I had to warn him about lodging a complaint. He agreed, but kept on mumbling something in his local dialect all the time. Once he reached the destination and I gave him the fare, he just flung the change at my face and drove off. I was stunned and could not react,” said Sharjah resident Snigdha Shekhar.

“Many a time they stop and when we tell them to go to Sharjah from Dubai or vice versa, they have excuses ready. Some say that they were going for a duty change while some say that they need to go to wash their car or for prayers. I know they are lying for if they were so busy, they would not have stopped in the first place,” a passenger pointed out.