Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen has broken his promise and disregarded the concerns of taxi drivers to begin a government taxi service through Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
The agreement was signed by the Director General of the Transport Ministry Ahmed Shameem and MTCC Managing Director Ahmed Saudi.
The Transport Ministry said MTCC was awarded the contract to provide a 100 percent electric vehicle (EV) taxi line.
The project is scheduled to be implemented in three phases. Under the first phase, taxi services will be launched at Hulhumale' and Velana International Airport (VIA) this year.
The second phase of the project will start in 2026 and 2027 in Villimale', Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi while the third phase will begin in Rasmale' and Giraavaru.
Sixty percent of the drivers will work full-time while 40 percent will work part-time. Mechanical staff, operational staff and cleaners will also be hired for the taxi line.
Employees have to work eight hours a day or 28 hours a week and will be paid every two weeks.
Transport Ministry assured private taxi drivers that the new government taxi line would not affect their livelihood. The ministry said it would offer additional income generating opportunities for private taxi drivers.
The government first announced the launch of a taxi line at a ceremony on July 25 last year. However, the government changed its decision on August 4 after taxi drivers protested against it.
However, Transport Minister Ameen told the parliament's Economic Affairs Committee in October that the government has decided to task a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) with providing taxi service.
