Taxi Fares to Be Put Up in Tbilisi

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has said that taxi drivers in the capital will be obliged to offer passengers a good and high-quality service within the reforms planned by City Hall, but noted this will likely result in increased fares.

"Citizens who use taxis have been demanding better services. This concerns both the cars and the drivers’ competence. Many taxi drivers do not know the streets of the capital well but with the reform that we have started this will be regulated to a very high level,” he stated.

Kaladze says despite the fact that taxi fares will increase in parallel with the service quality, in general the fares are “too low” in the country.

“It is very cheap to travel by taxi in Georgia, much cheaper compared to other countries,” he added, going on to underline that City Hall is doing its best to develop public transport and make it the most comfortable and attractive means of transportation in the city.

“The public transport reform will give us the opportunity to be able to travel comfortably from one place to another, a reform which is just as important for the environment," he said.

On August 1, Tbilisi City Hall launched the taxi reform, initiated by the Mayor, according to which from October 1, it became illegal to work as a taxi driver without a special permit.

From October 1, 2019, all taxis in the capital of Georgia must be white. Three-door vehicles and right-hand-drive vehicles will not be allowed to provide taxi services.

All taxi drivers have to place the permit certificate inside the car. The certificate displays the driver's photo, name and surname, the permit number, date of issue and validity, state number of the vehicle, model of transport, and a fast feedback (QR) code.

By Thea Morrison

Image source: kvira.ge