Muscat – The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) will launch a mobile app for public taxis on June 1 to streamline taxi services in the sultanate.

The ‘Aber’ taxi mobile app for orange and white taxis will determine the tariff for each trip doing away the need of haggling over unreasonable taxi fares.

An official at MTCIT said, “The new app is in line with the ministry’s plans to use modern digital technologies and implementation of the provisions of Ministerial Decision No 195/2018 issued on December 26, 2018, regarding public taxi tariffs.”

The official added that through the ‘digital meter’, the ministry seeks to regulate activities of taxis in the country, thereby safeguarding the rights of passengers and taxi drivers.

The app will help taxi drivers calculate the distance and time travelled per trip and estimate the total fare. The app is also an alternative to traditional meters used for calculating tariffs.

According to the official, as per the set tariff, fares begin at 300bz with the addition of 130bz/km; 50bz will be charged for each waiting minute after the lapse of five free minutes.

He added that in the event of multiple passengers, the total fare will be divided equally among them.

The official also informed that the ride would be free if the driver fails to turn the app on.

The announcement of the app was welcomed by citizens and taxi drivers alike.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Nasser al Hosni, Director of Happy Line Transportation, said, “Unfortunately, we are late in applying this system. Many countries already have it. The app will create a level of comfort between customers and taxi drivers because it leaves no scope for miscalculation and mistrust. I also believe that Aber will serve tourists very well as they will know tariffs in advance.”

Describing the decision as excellent, taxi driver Sultan al Rawahi said, “It will organise the taxi business. I believe that the app will make it easier for us to transport customers quickly, easily and without complaints because the tariff is set.”

Another taxi driver Rashid al Abri said considering that it is just a matter of downloading an app rather than installing a physical meter, all taxi drivers will readily adopt it. “It will ensure fair play for both taxi drivers and passengers.”

Taxi drivers can download the app on Android and iOS devices.