Taxi operators face long wait to update meters after fare increase

Hundreds of taxi operators are facing delays in applying Fiji's new taxi fares because only a handful of accredited meter calibration agencies are available.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said only three accredited taxi meter calibration agencies are operating in the Suva-Nausori corridor and one in Nadi.

The shortage has created a backlog as taxi operators rush to recalibrate their meters to reflect the new 14-cent drop charge, which took effect yesterday alongside lower fuel prices.

Safeway Electronics director Tauz Khan, one of the accredited agencies, said calibrating older taxis could take up to an hour, while newer models take about 30 minutes.

"You've got 50 people here, and you allocate an hour, it's 50 hours," Mr Khan said.

He said four programmers and two pulse-takers were working continuously to meet demand.

The Fiji Sun understands taxi drivers are frustrated that although the fare has increased from 10 cents to 14 cents per 100 metres, it could take up to a month before all taxi meters are recalibrated.

Additional accredited agencies operate in the North, but numbers remain limited.

Meanwhile, taxi driver Mohammad Farook Hussain, who has driven for 20 years, welcomed the changes.

"I am feeling happy about it. There will be an increase in my income due to increase in fare and drop in fuel prices," he said.

Mr Hussain said he had been losing between $25 and $30 a day before fuel prices fell.

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) said the temporary fare adjustment, effective until October 1, would remain under review as fuel markets stabilised.

The commission said it would continue to monitor conditions in the taxi industry.