Reliable taxi service for all

By DELLYANNE ILAI
WITH the increasing demand and attractive shopping malls in Port Moresby city, private taxi operators are now gearing up to operate under a taxi scheme.
The scheme is an initiative of the Vision City megamall management.
Luke Kulua is one private taxi operator, who is all too happy to be part of the new scheme.
Kulua, along with his several other private taxi operators will soon be providing a public transport service to customers to Vision City to operate under the scheme.
The new initiative of the Vision City management to have the taxi scheme in place will be very helpful, Kulua said.
“It is an achievement for those of us not operating under a company,” Kulua said.
Five other operators from Western Highlands also told The National that the move by the Vision City mall management was in line with current government regulations and changes in the Road Traffic Authority and Land Transport Division, which required public transport owners to operator under companies.
One said: “At first, I thought it was not a good idea, however, operating under a company should be the way forward.”
There are processes in operating a public transport business and we are happy to go with that, he added.
Kulua said to operate under a new taxi scheme to be introduced by the VC management has brought a new perspective on how to operate in a more orderly manner to serve customers professionally.
Private operators are sometimes disappointed when customers chose to use cabs owned by well-known companies such as Comfort Taxis,” Kulua said.
He also noted that in 2015 when he was operating a private taxi he was not consistent in serving customers.
However, when in a common location such as the Vision City he would begin to build relationships with clients and hopefully provide an honest and efficient service, Kulua said.
“Also it is quite expensive to operate a private taxi service; we do spend extra on spare parts, fuel, and other mechanical cost as well,” he said.
Focusing on helping and operating in a more orderly and guided manner should be the way forward to earn money in a public taxi transport, Kulua said.