New taxi fares ‘reflect operators’ expenses’ |01 September 2010

This was said by road transport commissioner David Bianchi in an interview following complaints from both taxi operators and the public about the rise in fares.

Taxis on Mahe are charging R25 for the first kilometre – up from the previous R23 – and R23 for every extra kilometre instead of the previous R7.50, while the charge for each piece of luggage has gone up from R5 to R10.

On Praslin and La Digue, the charges are R28 for the first kilometre and R24.50 for every extra kilometre.

Mr Bianchi said the new fares are the result of consultations the Department of Transport had with operators through the Taxi Operators’ Association.

“The new prices were calculated based on information given by the taxi drivers, and from there we used special formulae to work them out,” he said.

“But the main information was given by the operators themselves. It was not decided by us or the government.”
Mr Bianchi said some operators wanted an even higher tariff, but after many deliberations the department intervened and finally agreed to the new tariff.

However, the taxi operators are now saying that business has gone down because of the new tariff, while customers are saying the fares are too high.

With the new tariff, someone taking a taxi from the Amitié airport on Praslin to the Baie Ste Anne jetty will have to pay around R370 compared to the old fare of R200.

Mr Bianchi said to ease the situation, taxi users can negotiate on the maximum tariff given by the meter and the operators might offer a discount, which is allowed by the taxi regulations.

He said if the taxi operators still feel that the new tariff is too high, they can renegotiate with the Department of Transport.

“It is up to the taxi drivers to make the change. We are ready to listen to them and together find   a suitable tariff for them and their clients,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Seychelles Land Transport Agency, Gerard Hoareau, said a guide with the estimated fare a customer will have to pay for a trip will be published soon.

He said the agency did a one-month survey on the types of meter that taxi operators have in their cars. Some of these will be recalibrated, while in some cases drivers will have to buy new ones.

The agency has just received a consignment of new taxi meters and they will be available soon.

He said 70% of the operators responded to the survey and the rest are either not in business or their cars are being repaired.

Mr Hoareau called on taxi operators who have not taken part in the survey to contact the agency. He said measures will be taken by the Seychelles Licensing Authority if they fail to do so.