Metered cabs to start April 1

PHUKET: Metered yellow and blue taxis will be cruising Phuket’s streets from April 1, says the proprietor of the private company starting the service. Tawatchai Meeniam, Managing Director of Phuket Metered Taxi Service Co, told the Gazette today that he hopes to start with five taxis, all of them new Mitsubishi Lancers. Fares for the 24-hour service will be 30 baht for the first two kilometers and four baht for each additional kilometer. The taxis will be based at a dispatch center on Surin Rd. They will be active around Phuket International Airport, Phuket Bus Station, Tesco Lotus Supercenter and Big C. “I think this is a good chance for people to have more choice in transportation,” K. Tawatchai said. The taxi boss has previously dismissed concerns of conflict between his company and the island’s existing tuk-tuk and motorcycle taxi drivers, saying, “If they want to become our staff, they are welcome.” K. Tawatchai said 2,000 brochures explaining the metered taxi service will be distributed to the public before April 1.