Finding taxi 'is a nightmare on Abu Dhabi streets'

Finding taxi 'is a nightmare on Abu Dhabi streets'
By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: April 10, 2008, 00:28

Abu Dhabi: A sales executive of a bank waited for a taxi for about two hours, from 7pm to 9pm, last Thursday, at the end of Hamdan street but in vain.

"Finally I had to walk for one hour ... to reach my flat in Tourist Club Area," said Fahad Abbas, an Indian.

Even after the introduction of new taxis, such complaints are common among the residents in the city, Gulf News found.

And the scorching sun of the summer adds to their woes, complained many residents.

Woes

Fahad was sharing his worst experience on getting a taxi on Abu Dhabi streets with several others. Weekends are the worst but other days are not different either, said Fahad who commutes every day on taxis to meet his clients all over the city.

"I have to wait for at least half an hour, on average to get a taxi on any street in the city." Fahad said lunch time is the worst on week days as most of the drivers either go for prayers or a break. "It was okay till March end but now the summer does not allow you to be under the sun in the afternoon," said Fahad.

Ahmad Sulaiman, an Emirati technician, also echoed the same problem. On average he waits half an hour for taxis. "I have a car but I have to depend on taxis ... when the car is in garage." He said the most difficult time to find a taxi is morning and afternoon. One of my friends told me he had to wait for one and a half hours at Al Maria Cinema, in the afternoon last week, said Sulaiman.

Habib Ali, a Pakistani technician, also said he has waited more than half an hour for taxis several times. "We need more taxis in the city," said Ali.

Sagar Thonikkadavil, an Indian visitor, said the situation is worse in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai and Sharjah. "When I was in Dubai and Sharjah one month ago, I did not find it much of a problem to find a taxi," said Thonikkadavil.

Many of the women passengers told Gulf News they found it difficult to wait for the taxis on the streets.

"Last week I waited for 40 minutes on Electra Street in the afternoon for a taxi," said A.B., who works as a secretary.

Phasing out

Trans AD, Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars in Abu Dhabi, in a statement issued to Gulf News said 200 new taxis will be added to the present fleet of 8,300 taxis in the emirate, including new and old ones.

"We phased out about 700 old Taxis and introduced about 1,000 taxis," said the statement.