JEDDAH — Several citizens have claimed that the Ministry of Transport's decision to reduce plying of taxis on city's streets has proved to be ineffective. A source from the Ministry of Transport said it was announced a year ago that the ministry will control the number of taxi cars to prevent traffic congestion. "The decision was then forwarded to the Public Transportation Commission for execution. The decision is being implemented gradually. The ministry received a lot of complaints from drivers about the number of taxis on the streets. Drivers feel that these taxis roam around the street without business, obstructing traffic flow," said the source. The source also said some expatriates violate their work visa by working as taxi drivers. "The description on their work visa does not list them as taxi drivers, yet they violate laws by driving around the city as taxi drivers. Reports show there is an estimate of 48,000 taxi cars in the Kingdom," said the source. Abu Al-Kalam Mubarak, 58, came to the Kingdom from Bangladesh eight years ago. "I have been working as a taxi driver for eight years. I have never noticed reduction in the number of taxis," said Mubarak. Mohammad Asif, a 25-year-old Pakistani, has been working as a taxi driver for the last few years. He said: "There is a demand for taxi drivers near shopping centers and public roads. I entered the country on a work visa but my work permit does not list that I am a taxi driver," said Asif. Mohammad Akbar, 35, transports pilgrims between Makkah and Jeddah. "Two trips to Makkah and Jeddah make me earn more profit than 12 hours of work," said Akbar.
