Applications for 20 new taxi operator licences

Transport Malta has issued applications for 20 new taxi operator licences following the government’s decision to reform the sector to make the service more efficient and affordable.

The new licences aim to encourage competition among operators and stimulate fairer pricing, Transport Malta said in a statement.

These 20 licences are the first of 50 new ones to be issued by 2012 with the aim of increasing the number of licences for white taxis by 25 per cent, to reach 250. Transport Malta said that by May 2010, all taxis will have to be equipped with surveillance cameras and a two-way communication system linked to a control room at the authority’s offices.

All vehicles must have air-conditioning, emergency buttons accessible to passengers, intelligent taxi meters and car tracking devices.

New drivers will have to attend a 46-hour compulsory training programme and all drivers will have to undergo new periodical training every five years.

Applications for the new taxi licences may be obtained from www.transport.gov.mt or the authority’s offices in Floriana.