The taxicabs of the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, in Dubai have carried more than 107 million passengers on 52 million trips over the first six months of this year.

"The performance indicators of the taxi sector are showing improvements according to the Automated Taxi Movement Management System in the emirate, known as Dispatcher 8," said Dr. Yousef Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of RTA's Public Transport Agency. "Results are measured and performance is analysed with the aim of improving the taxi sector, and realigning the services on offer with the comprehensive expansion as well as future projects and events envisaged in the emirate," he explained.

"The taxi booking service through the Booking and Dispatch Centre, in terms of bookings executed and the number of riders carried, has shown a healthy growth rate of as much as 22% during the first six months of this year compared with the corresponding period last year. The number of bookings executed has exceeded three million and the number of passengers served through this service was more than 5.5 million persons."

"About 45.08% of taxi bookings executed were made through automated channels during the first half of this year, which compares well with the figure recorded during the same period last year of 42.76%. Bookings executed through the IVR system have exceeded one million, whereas the number of bookings made through the Smart Taxi App amounted to 175,000," noted Al Ali.

"The share of Hala Taxi fleet designated for serving customers dealing with the Booking and Dispatch Centre has seen a significant rise from 22% of the total bookings made by the centre during the first half of 2014 to as much as 56% of total bookings made in the first half of this year. The Booking and Dispatch Centre has received 4.5 million calls in six months this year, with a 10% increase over the number of calls received during the same period last year.

"The Public Transport Agency will spare no effort in uplifting the calibre of services provided to meet the needs of customers and add to their happiness," concluded Al Ali.
Source: WAM