Taxi operators complain about ‘limousines’
The growing trend of converting vehicles running parallel taxi operations into “limousines” of licensed companies has evoked sharp and worried reactions from cabbies.
The taxi drivers accuse the “limousine” operators of eating into their market share and affecting the revenues of their franchisees. The “limousines” have hit the roads of Qatar in large numbers of late.
Commuters, on the other hand, feel the “high-handed” cabbies are largely responsible for their predicament. They argue that the “limousine” services - though sometimes too expensive - are able to flourish in the market because people see them as reliable alternatives to the normal taxis, whose drivers often refuse to go by the meter or travel short distances.
An official of one of the taxi franchisees said the rise in the number of so-called “limousines” has hit their operations hard. Incidents of arguments between Karwa-authorised cabbies and “limousine” operators are reported from many city locations every day, he pointed out.
He claimed that the “limousine” drivers were no more than parallel taxi operators who misused their limousine licences to paralyse the country’s legitimate taxi operations.
It has come to light that many of these “limousine” drivers look for passengers at busy hypermarkets, key locations across Doha and even outside the newly opened Hamad International Airport,
according to sources.
A Karwa franchisee representative recalled that when he raised the issue of “limousines encroaching upon their territory” with officials of a hypermarket, the latter ignored the matter. As each day passes, the “limousines are cornering every inch of the space earmarked for taxis”, he complained.
It is also understood that many of the new “limousine” operators are misusing the licence by paying between QR500 and QR750 as monthly fees to licensed companies to ensure that their operations are not hit under any circumstances.
The rush to shift to licensed “limousine” services started after the Ministry of Interior intensified its operations to seize vehicles running parallel operations, it is believed.
Sources also point out that many of these operators are using vehicles that are five years old or more to run “limousine” services, while there is a government rule that makes it mandatory for taxi companies to withdraw cars on the completion of three years on roads.
Complaints of overcharging have also come in from a section of residents. Some of these “limousine” operators demand QR80-100 for trips to locations such as Umm Ghuwailina and Mansoura from the new airport, it is learnt.
While calling upon the Ministry of Transport to intervene to protect the interests of taxi operators, officials of the operating franchisees said it was high time the authorities stopped issuing licences to such “limousine” services.
Read full story on Gulf Times
tit for tat,, What Taxi drivers do to passengers ???? They deserve that......
tit for tat,, What Taxi drivers do to passengers ???? They deserve that......
Both passengers and drivers have issues. Drivers should make money (question of survival), hence should be selective. On the other hand passengers should be served (means of survival). Intelligent solution like taxitune.com, where passengers see taxis close to them and drivers see passengers on street for free is one way to mediate the gap.
All karwa taxi drivers shut up and do your job as you are suppose to. You guys don't deserve to complain. I hope more limos and private cabs flood streets of qatar.
hahahahahaha....!!!!. What a joke Now its the very taxi drivers who make life miserable for the passengers who keep them paid by hiring their taxi services doing the complaining. Looks like now they are finally getting a taste of their own medicine
I agree khalli. Karwa's strict policies, especially on daily rental rates, force many of the drivers to revert to underhanded tactics just to cover costs. I am one of those people who will never take a Karwa taxi again simply because I do not trust the drivers due to a couple of bad experiences. Give me Fox limousine service any day.
Bring on the (legal) limos.
May be this a "PAID NEWS" from Gulf Times , can any Gulf -times personnel tell how much they owe for reporting this news and not reporting the real story affecting the common peoples
Karwa taxi drivers dnt know how to treat passenger...... only some good drivers.. rest is shit.. Limousinesmuch better than Karwa Shit
karwa taxi drivers dnt knw hw to drive.... !!
Fedup with taxies , they never takes you where you wanted to go instead , they always takes where they like to drop you . Ban All taxi operators and give more opportunities for limousine companies
Karwa drivers select their destination & not the clients. So why are they complaining? They also drive like crazy with out thinking of the safety of the client. Once a group of Karwa drivers"Nigerians" im not sure coz they looked like that, blocked my car and didnt take any notice even though i was honking & asking for space to go. If this if the attitude they chow towards someone, then the "LIMO" is showing Karwa the way underground. But, not all Karwa drivers are like that. some are very good.
I think having to listen to taxi drivers complain has to be the joke of the year. After all their bad behavior they forced passengers to seek other ways to travel. Now they are complaining. They should have thought about their reputation when they were lying, cheating and stealing from their passengers.
No one in Qatar want Karwa , Why authorities are not listening
Qatar need to free from these Karwa peoples , its a public menace the old yellow style taxi are more people friendly and useful.
Good riddance to this taxi company... they should clean their ranks of abusive drivers before complaining. i have ride taxi before but always charge me 15 QAR up even in short distance. That's why I was force to buy my own vehicle...
Now they have the gal to complain...
Complain????OMG...they still have the guts to complain where in fact they are so choosy in taking the passengers esp. if it is for short trip and mostly without running the meters....
Public transport is not helping people at all. They should explain how you will stand in a 55 degree temperature for more than an hour without getting a taxi. Limousine is helping the public they should be thankful to them.
What? They're complaining? Haha! its Funny When they are the ones who's not doing their jobs right, although i see only 1 company that is quite nice and their service is Good. Cluee.. It is color blue on top. They should fix their service first.
Taxi operators must make sure that their cab service is available in every streets of Qatar, as well as their cab drivers shows the mercy to stop when a passenger on street requests for a trip.