More taxis and more women drivers for Sharjah

A Dh30 million telephone booking system will make ordering a taxi in the emirate even easier, the Sharjah Transport Corporation said yesterday.

Powered by automated translation

SHARJAH // A Dh30 million telephone booking system will make ordering a taxi in the emirate even easier, the Sharjah Transport Corporation said yesterday.

At the launch of the corporation's 24-hour booking system, called Any Time Booking, Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Shuhail, the company's director of technical support department, said as part of the new system, customers will be able to request one of the STC's family taxis, which are driven by women, or an ordinary cab.

The corporation has increased the number of cabs with female drivers from eight to 23 in order to cater for families and women who do not feel comfortable travelling in taxis driven by men.

Mr Al Shuhail said that demand for taxis in the emirate had risen, with the corporation handling about 36,000 calls in the first five months of this year. He added this was a major indicator of the good service provided by the STC and appreciation from the public.

Last year 1,125 vehicles were in service in Sharjah. By May this year that number had increased to 4,000.

"The service has reduced the public's reliance on private cars as they are assured they will not have to wait so long in the scorching heat for a taxi," said Mr Al Shuhail.

Authorities hope that an improved taxi service will also benefit the emirate's tourism industry.

Passengers can request a taxi in Sharjah by calling 600545455.