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Big Plans For Savusavu Town, Minister Kumar Assures Taxi Operators
Taxi operators in Savusavu Town have raised concerns on the challenges they are facing with other vehicle owners who are also operating as taxis.
Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar, met with the members of the taxi association during her recent visit to Savusavu.
Ms Kumar told the association members that there were big plans for the whole of Savusavu Town.
“Carrier and twin cabs are a unique mode of transport to be part of the town.
“I have instructed the team that we need to move out of this clutter from the main town centre.
“We are starting off with the market, so there will be a lot of changes as we move on.
“Even from where the taxis, carriers, buses are parked, we will shift and organise the town in a proper way,” Ms Kumar said.
Savusavu Taxi Association president, Mohammed Sarukh, said COVID-19 was one of the challenges they faced.
“The issuing of 40 permits to operate for carrier and twin cab drivers, has had an impact on the taxi business,” Mr Sarukh said.
“Taxi drivers have been complaining about this because twin cabs and carriers pick more passengers than the usual taxi which has affected the taxi business.
“In Savusavu Town, we have seen twin cabs are regularly operating as taxis.”
Mr Sarukh said more than 100 taxis were based in Savusavu Town. Savusavu Town Council chief executive officer, Seema Datt, clarified the issue of permits.
Ms Datt said the council was only responsible for providing the space for businesses to operate from.
She said when Minister Faiyaz Koya visited Savusavu Town, the issue of the permit was handed to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to deal with.
“The council does not have any role in the issuing of the permit, we only approve taxi bases in the town for the taxis to operate from. LTA handles the issuing of permits for taxi opera
tors, the council only steps in when business operators wish to acquire space.”