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The government is planning to revive taxicab services in Dhaka and Chattogram, along with the possibility to expand such services to other divisional headquarters and their adjacent districts.
This initiative has been taken to provide better transportation services to citizens under a taxicab network, much like other growing cities in the world. Keeping this goal in mind, the government is also thinking of upgrading the existing Taxicab Service Guideline 2010.
The guideline will also be updated, as currently it only allows taxicab services in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet cities and some adjacent districts.
The Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) held a meeting on May 20 with its Secretary ABM Amin Ullah in the chair to discuss the issue.
Senior officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Metropolitan police of Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur and Barishal, and other stakeholders participated in the meeting.
Attendees of the meeting said they had discussed introducing taxicab services outside Dhaka, Chattogram too, as these cities are growing but there are no on-demand car services there.
Citizens and tourists need to rely on rented vehicles. The service seekers sometimes face trouble as such services do not have fixed fares. There are also security issues involved with the service.
“For example, starting taxicab services in Barishal, Khulna cities and adjacent districts have huge tourism potential. There this service may gain popularity,” said a RTHD official on condition of anonymity.
The Taxicab Service Guideline 2010 will be updated for adding the divisional headquarters as service areas, as well as some important tourist areas for taxicab operations. In the near future, the authorities concerned may form a committee to draft the updated guideline.
Although no ride sharing services were available in the country before 2010, several are now providing services with four-wheelers including sedan and microbuses on-demand.
The updated guideline will address those issues and add some up-to-date features with the taxi service so that they can earn profit through competition.
Another official said the authorities are thinking of introducing an app for proper management of the upcoming service as well. Besides, they are also considering amending relevant laws to facilitate import of vehicles for taxi at cheaper prices.
On the issue, RTHD Additional Secretary Md Saiful Islam said, “Stakeholders in transport sectors have been demanding taxicab’s inclusion for a long time, especially for those areas where people can afford them.
“We are positive. But the first thing to consider is affordability. The new service should be affordable to gain popularity. There is no point in introducing taxicab service again if the fare remains high.”
Saiful pointed out, “Ridesharing services have already gained much popularity for its availability and affordability. The introduction of taxicab services will need huge investments. Taxi services should not fail again.
“We may bring some changes to the Taxicab Service Guideline 2010 as well to make the service realistic and long lasting.”
In 2014, Toma Construction Company Ltd and Bangladesh Army Welfare Trust started providing taxi services in Dhaka and Chattogram with 425 vehicles. The Welfare Trust operated only 50 cabs in Chattogram city.
They called off service in Chattogram in November 2015 and shifted the cars to Dhaka. But their service could not gain popularity mainly for high fare issues both in Dhaka and the port city.
After the inauguration of ride sharing services in 2016, the taxicab services actually collapsed in the following year. Currently very few taxis can be seen on Dhaka streets.
Sources said that two companies – one in Dhaka and another in Chattogram – have already sought permission to operate taxicabs recently. Chattala Service Private Ltd has been given permission to import and operate 150 taxicabs in December 2023.
However, an official of the company told this correspondent that they will take time to start the service as the government has bigger plans.
“We want to hit the road once all the paperwork is done. After final approval we will import the vehicles. The updated guideline will provide the operators with additional facilities, we believe,” he said.
Meanwhile, the application of Carnival Automobiles Ltd, which sought BRTA's permission for a fleet of 3,000 AC taxis in the capital, is currently under review.
A BRTA official, preferring to be anonymous, said after updating the guideline they will invite companies interested to operate taxicab services in important cities to file applications. After completing all formalities taxicabs will hit the roads soon.
Shaon/Sairas
