More illegal taxis giving rides in Qatar
Illegal taxis continue to do flourishing business in different parts of Doha, especially during weekends, Gulf Times has reported.
A whirlwind tour undertaken to many locations in Doha yesterday afternoon proved that a large number of illegal taxi operators are active near Mowasalat's Central Bus Station at Al Ghanim and at other places, including two busy hypermarkets.
"The illegal taxi operators are functioning openly, they call out the names of the destinations and attract passengers by offering a discount on the regular fare charged by the regular taxis operated by Mowasalat and its franchisees," a passenger said at the Central Bus Station.
"If you want to hire a taxi to a nearby destination, no driver will take you as all are waiting to run trips to distant places such as Al Attiyah Market in Industrial Area, Shaliya, Wukair, Wakrah or Mesaieed," pointed out another.
Both the licensed taxis and the illegal ones operate on a sharing basis from the Central Bus Station. Each taxi takes at least four passengers to a particular destination and charges QR10 or QR15 per person depending on the distance to be covered.
In the case of illegal taxis, some might give a discount of QR1 or QR2, which is an attraction for the low-income expatriates, who converge at the Central Bus Station.
A visit to the Central Bus Station on a Friday evening reveals quite a chaotic scene with both the licensed as well as the illegal taxi drivers canvassing for passengers.
Drivers could be seen standing near their taxis, braving the hot sun and calling out the names of the destinations as well the charges for the ride.
Once a car is filled with at least four passengers, the driver leaves for the destination while others continue with the "announcements" until they get their share of passengers.
The practice is found to be economical for both the parties and keeps both the customers and taxi operators happy.
"Each passenger need to pay only about QR10 for such a long ride, the taxi operator does not need to operate the metre and gets about QR40 for a one way ride. So both are happy," said a passenger. [Read more on Gulf Times]
They are serving more and charging less, There should be proper channel through which any one should be able to get himself registered if he wants to use his own car as CAB
from all the above comments why QL /Gulf times calling illegal taxi let it will be legal and Karwa the illegal thiefs
@brit karwa taxi its crap and drivers very rude ......if you say i will report ...they just say no problem u go ahead...... most of the time if u ask for a ride so many questions .
where u want to go ,no meeter , he will say the amount that we need to give other wise " HE WILL BE BC"..............
Some Karwa drivers are good, and they also here to earn money, they want to make max as possible. Also we have to consider their literacy level. But this is not the case in majority of drivers. Most are rude and behave inhuman.
Britexpat, we wish we could report and there was some action. There are two incidents, once a aged woman with two small kids, took a taxi for a destination, came out that the shop at the destination is closed, she asked the driver to leave her back, he refuse, she asked leave her somewhere where she could get taxi, he refused, lady got angry and said, i will report you. The driver LAUGHING said go ahead and report, nothing will happen... its driver words and we know he is right. Another instance also one driver said same thing, "go ahead and complaint, doesnt make difference to me". They know there are no ears at Karwa.
brit, to whom? whats will be the action? deportation? will it make public transportation better? Yes Gohar problem is their attitude.
Again.. You must report them
These illegal taxis are encouraged because of the bad attitude of karva taxis.They dont want to drive by meters and they asked you if you go that area i will drop you otherwise i am busy.
Yesterday it happened with me with 3 karva taxis at 1100 hrs.At the end i opened my internet on my smartphone,opened qatarliving and called limousine/private taxi.Came immediately.All these because of their bad attitude.Otherwise no body likes to pay more and also do something illegal.
So what?? Before they were LEGAL.. you have to bring a better system of public transport to made that Illegal. introducing expensive & rare Mowaslat services: Qatar Govt is just just bullying the expats.
It sucks, public transportation in Qatar it sucks. Okay there might be lot of cabs out there but when in "need" its hard to find one. Not recommending illegal taxis but they are a help at times.
Why not report him to the company ?
Karwa taxi drivers are just looting the public no one is asking them. I my self came to gold market near main Karwa bus stand with my family while returning back first they were asking where are you going, they were refusing to go to nearby destination, only one driver said I will go to ummghowalina but you will pay me 30 riyals. Also they are deciding at the beginning how much we have to pay.
Karwa taxi drivers are just looting the public no one is asking them. I my self came to gold market near main Karwa bus stand with my family while returning back first they were asking where are you going, they were refusing to go to nearby destination, only one driver said I will go to ummghowalina but you will pay me 30 riyals. Also they are deciding at the beginning how much we have to pay.
We get what we look for ............... ..............
Hope for better leaders in the line transport services..
From the day Qatar stopped the private taxi service to bring only Karwa, People are struggling...today taxis are still not reliable, not avaable if needed or not affordable for 80% of expats..!
Even after 8-9 years, Public transport services ate not well managed, or not maintained..
Public transport is the backborn any developing/developed country, but Qatar promot only costly cars..
Just remember that illegal taxis are not insured and if in an accident , you also could be held liable
Until they established the good transportation system, it would be stupidity to stop the illegal taxis. Because customers are 10 times more than the legal taxis!
The authorities know they are there. If they wanted to stop it , the would