First taxi franchise to start service in June
So will the taxis with different coloured roofs take you where you want to go regardless of where it is, will they turn on their meters and will they select the correct tariff? If so this will be a positive and long awaited improvement to Qatar's public transport.
First Karwa taxi franchise to start service in June
By Ramesh Mathew
Staff Reporter
The first private franchise of Karwa to operate taxis across Qatar would start their formal operations, latest by June 1.
Disclosing this yesterday, Mowasalat chairman Jassim Saif al-Sulaiti said officials of the franchisee, Al Million Services Trading & Contracting Company (MSTC) have said they would be able to commence their taxi operations latest by that date (June 1).
The chairman said as per the understanding between Karwa and MSTC, the latter should be able to put a minimum of 100 taxis on roads at their launch. “In the first three months of their operations, the franchise should launch a minimum of 300 taxis and they should be able to fulfil their promise of launching 500 taxis on the roads in a period of 12 months starting from the launch date,” said al-Sulaiti.
Within six months after the first bidder (MSTC) fulfils their contract, the second company should introduce their first batch of 100 taxis, he said. Similarly, they should also be able to operate their 500 taxis during the stipulated period of one year, added the Mowasalat chairman.
One more company has been shortlisted for operating Karwa taxis and they also need to start operations within six months after the second party fulfils their commitment.
Besides MSTC, Petro Qatar and Al Ijaara Leasing Company have also won the bid to operate private taxis in the country.
While each of the bidders’ taxis would bear the turquoise colour of Karwa taxis on their body, they would be distinguished from each other by a different colour on their roof.
When contacted, an MSTC official said their company is well set to start the taxi operations before the launch deadline of June 1 and said they have already purchased more than 160 brand new vehicles, which are being painted in Karwa’s turquoise colour at a dedicated facility of their suppliers in the Industrial Area.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=489586...
As reported in Gulf Times and promised by Mowasalat's chairman, the first private franchise of Karwa to operate taxis across Qatar would start their formal operations, latest by June 1. But today is already 1 June 2012 and have anyone of you found any Al Million's taxis plying the roads of Doha yet?? Is this a joke or scam??
its starting in april isnt it?
Thats what peninsula reported two days back...
Ingeniero.. wait a minute .. hit me with what ?? stones.. GET A CAR FIRST ...LMFAO :D
Captain, I will hit you one day, and reports with Police dept will show your fault... Am just waiting for right time to kick the a** of one Karwa specially in roundabout, just want to be sure, that he got no passengers..
what should I do now with Black Pearl???
In an earlier article (can't find it now) it was stated that the price will be the same. Which I guess only leaves service to differentiate.
Sure i will give a tips instead of 50 dirhams i will make it 1 riyal.. with the nice perfume 2 riyals could be.. :D
I wish new taxi drivers will be required to take shower too! At least once a day :P
It'll be the same old rubbish I'm afraid!! New cars, which'll be a bonus. That said, they'll price fix it for sure.
As far as I can see, Karwa's problem is the management and NOT the drivers. There are senior people in Karwa lining their pockets in a big way....Employ the right people, and that company would see immense profits, instead of the major annual losses they report. Then they could treat their staff properly, who would then treat the customers properly!!!!
I used to drive a tank.. they promoted me for my performance against our enemies.. now i drive KARWA
any thing more ?
these were pre emptive efforts I was doing, you may say, so that I won't be tempted to read a assay in a taxi later in the day...
My friend , some were talking even in their sleep & first thing they did was this post before bath , a million thanks for caring about MM
MM are you talking to urself ?
no body will ever tell anything to strangers untill it was asked,,
''ramil26 said A taxi driver told me that ...
A taxi driver told me that once ...''
still they are expected not be distracted with passengers like this who talk full fledged bussiness which usually needs a five star hotel to discuss, not road side passengers who even don't bother to lieve a 50 dirham tip, I assume!
''A taxi driver told me that once the new fleet is launched there will be a fare hike instead. i clarified that he may be wrong, and went further to explain supply and demand, and competition amongst companies. but he confirmed that he is right. since there will more bosses who needs income, mmore employees to pay, plus competition, prises sill really soar.
i really hope he is wrng>''
are they working, on job ? Don't they care enough to respond here as we idle folks are just washing their dirty linens since early good morning !?
I hope they are not as CHEATERS as Karwa Taxi Drivers are.. well not all but its roughly 75% of them are crook.
This is a good news... Hope they will get a good drivers who knows how to respect passengers!
One of the secretary working for this company happened to be a relative of my officemate and she mentioned it to me one time.
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and see what happens. If it goes well, Thank GOD/Alhumdulilah...if not, what to do Yani :P
A taxi driver told me that once the new fleet is launched there will be a fare hike instead. i clarified that he may be wrong, and went further to explain supply and demand, and competition amongst companies. but he confirmed that he is right. since there will more bosses who needs income, mmore employees to pay, plus competition, prises sill really soar.
i really hope he is wrng>
Hopefully they keep their meter on 1! Used to drive me mad!
What's the point if the price is no difference from Karwa? Typical Qatari business practice and we all end up getting screwed.
for 1.nce i agree with doha chap
This is a very good news. I just hope that the fare is right.
Please form an orderly line to come and bash the cabbies
I agree with you DC !! 90% of them are stinky, rude cheaters who doesnt know customer service at all and does not even communicate well, among other things.
i got fed up that i now intentionally take private taxis,
Yes, 'Doha-Chap2022' is 100% right. Most of the Karwa taxi drivers are Manners less. Stop, pull-off and pull-out anywhere they want. Ridiculous! Even no indication though.
Karwa launching another line of poorly trained ill-mannered cheats.
And these 'new' companies are owned by the same owner...
By the way it was announced earlier that these companies would start during Jan 2012 already. So as with many things in Qatar let's see. Announcing something is easy, implementation is a different thing.
Trouble is short people won't know which firm they are travelling with.
if they gonna adopt female taxi drivers, the next day m gonna sell my car.....:)
I do hope they do..that would be great. Like the pink taxis in Dubai!
Expect more reckless drivers in qatar -) peace!
They should employ FEMALE drivers...man that would be awesome :P
well, lets hope these new franchisees employ better staff.
Such a good news indeed !!
Some good news for the people who use taxis and hope they would be able to find one easily after 3 years when all these taxis are on the road.
Great news....I hope now these other "private" taxi's will have something to fear.