- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:43 07:01 12:27 15:25 17:47 19:05
A threefold rise in fares has been proposed for taxis in Sharjah. (FILE)
A reported near threefold increase in Sharjah taxi fares from September has come in for severe criticism from residents.
“It is highly unfair. Life will be made more miserable for common man who depends on taxis to commute,” said Mustafa, a Sharjah resident.
Commuters in Sharjah will have to pay a minimum taxi fare of Dh10 beginning September, according to reports by local dailies.
Passengers will also have to pay Dh1 for every 620 metres against the present Dh1 for every 650 metres of journey.
Though the starting fare will remain the same at Dh3.50 during the day and Dh4 at night, passengers will have to pay a minimum of Dh10 for a journey.
“As such we are already finding it difficult to meet the daily targets set by our companies. This increase will surely drive away more potential passengers,” said a Sharjah taxi driver, who sought anonymity.
The hike in fares came on the back of demands from taxi franchise companies who were unable to cope with the recent hike in fuel prices, Gulf News and The National quoted a senior Sharjah Transport official as saying.
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