Electronic meters in all taxis from June 2019

With the implementation of the Land Transport Law, any type of land transportation activity without a licence from the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) will be not allowed.

Ahmed bin Sulaiman al Yarubi, Director of Land Transport, told the Observer that one of the focus areas will be regulation of the taxis operated by individual citizens.

Under the rules, all taxi owners should get a permit from MOTC.

They can accommodate passengers only on ‘engaged’ basis. They can’t carry another passenger if there is already one present in the vehicle.

The process of installing electronic meters in the orange and white taxis will be implemented in a phased manner. It will begin with Muscat from June 2019.

The flag drop fare (starting fare) will be 300 baisas, which will increase at the rate of 130 baisas per kilometre.

Al Yarubi said a private company will be identified by the end of this year for the supply of electronic meters.

With the implementation of the Land Transport Law, the monitoring of activities of taxis will be moved to MOTC. The Royal Oman Police’s (ROP) role will be limited to vehicle inspection and registration.

All taxis should have an operational card, the cost of which will not exceed RO 15.