Valletta’s brand new taxi service has attracted its fair share of interest, and not just good business.
According to KDM Group chief executive Kenneth Demartino, the new electric cab service’s drivers have been “harassed” by other drivers from the white taxi service in its first weeks of operation.
“It seems that the white taxis have taken an adverse stand over various aspects concerning private transport, including the cab service… some of our drivers have reported white taxis following them, and drivers from the taxi service passing comments at them,” Demartino said.
The situation also came to the attention of the Ministry for Urban Development and Roads, which underlined its clear commitment for a more competitive transport market in a letter to the Federation of Transport.
In a reply to the association, the transport ministry acknowledged the new service was a source of irritation to the white taxis, but said that “government believes in competition… not just because it brings prices down but because it improves service overall.”
The ministry said it believed in offering space for the provision of electric mini-cabs and other means which could facilitate mobility. “The service given by electric mini-cabs go beyond that offered by public transport… at the end of the day it’s the public who chooses its own preferred service.”
Demartino said the electric cab service was an intra-city service, very different to the sort of business which white taxis cater for.
“In fact, I don’t think white taxis actually go for short trips, which is why the electric cab service has been in full demand since it started.”
The new cab service is able to access the pedestrian zone as well as other roads in Valletta, picking up customers from nine points including City Gate, Marsamxett, the Mediterranean Conference Centre and the Vertical Connections site.
Demartino said the service has been in full demand and extremely utilised. “In fact we can’t cope with the demand, and we’re trying to identify the next move to see whether we will increase cabs by October… in the meantime, we hope to settle any sort of misunderstanding with the white-taxi owners amicably.”