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Dubai taxi fare hike pushes people to public transport

As of December 1, the flag-off rate for taxis is Dh5, as compared to the earlier Dh3, for trips during peak hours from 7am to 10am, and from 4pm to 8pm.

Dubai: Residents in Dubai are reconsidering using public transport as a means of travel in the long run. Does this mean there will be more cars on the road, resulting in more traffic blocks?

“I am definitely not going to use taxis to get to places, unless it is absolutely necessary,” said Ahmad Bilal (27), a Dubai resident. In response to the recent hike in taxi fares, Bilal pointed out that the fare hike is “unexpected and unnecessary”.

As of December 1, the flag-off rate for taxis is Dh5, as compared to the earlier Dh3. Revised fares have been announced for trips during peak hours from 7am to 10am, and from 4pm to 8pm.

Javed Khamisani, curator of the Twitter handle @TrafficDxb (that updates users and commuters on accidents, traffic blocks, and jams in and around Dubai), said: “Another way to improve the traffic situation is to persuade people to make use of affordable public transport.

“Public transport should have more connectivity to areas/localities away from the Metro link. Currently, many areas have poor connectivity like IMPZ/DIP/Sports City/Arabian Ranches/Falcon City/Dubai Land.”

Shawn Mascrenhas (24), who recently moved to Dubai from India, said: “I’ve come here looking for a job. I am mainly going to use the Metro, because it is convenient. The taxi does seem like a very expensive mode of transport and I don’t intend using a car any time soon either.”

‘Better services’

In a statement on Twitter, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) explained that the “increase contributes to better services and facilities and ... to increasing the number of cabs to reach more passengers, especially (during the) ... rush hour”.

The RTA said the rate was increased as part of the efforts to upgrade the daily practices and performance of cabdrivers. A taxi driver, H.M., who was picking up passengers in Al Qusais, told Khaleej Times: “I get paid Dh35 for every Dh100 I earn. To make an average of Dh5,000 per month, I need to make an average of Dh510 everyday.”

H.M. works on shifts on a rotation basis. “I work from 4am to 4pm as of now and we’ve heard that the percentage of our earnings will increase after the hike.”

Overall fare hike

Apart from taxi fares, the overall fares for public transport in Dubai were revised on November 11. Covering all modes of transport, including the Dubai Metro, buses and the Dubai Tram, the revision saw a slight increase in fares across all zones and all types of Nol cards. Public transport user Maricel Distro, a Filipino, said: “I use the public transport to commute. I have no other way to travel. If you recharge the Nol card for a longer time period like six months or a quarter of a year, it will not be that expensive. But taxis will be something I will only take when necessary.” Another resident of Dubai, Sri Lankan Chamila Fernando, said: “I use the Metro, bus, and tram to commute. The hike will burn a ... hole in my pocket, but I have no other choice.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com