Catching a cab in Cairo may soon become very complicated, reports Reem Nafie Taking a cab in Cairo is not easy -- and neither is getting out of one. Taxis do not, for the most part, use a standardised fare system, leaving passengers and drivers in a constant quarrel over the fare. Other cab-related woes include the sorry state so many taxis are in, suffering everything from a lack of cleanliness to an excess of exhaust. All of these problems, officials are saying, will be gone by New Year's. This somewhat far-fetched claim stems from the launch of Cairo governorate's new Greater Cairo "capital taxi" project. According to the project's director Abdel-Qader Ismail, beginning 1 January, Cairenes will be able to choose between "new capital taxis", "old capital taxis" and "traditional taxis". "Old capital taxis" are part of a plan that began in 2003 but has yet to really come to fruition. The idea was that the 2,600 Greater Cairo taxis that were 30-40 years old would be replaced with new ones. Cairo Governorate signed a protocol with Nasser Bank that allowed the owners of these cars to obtain LE40,000 in loans to buy new air-conditioned cars. The owner would then have six years to repay the bank at seven per cent interest. A "specialised private investment company", using "an in call" system -- whereby the company receives calls from passengers and directs drivers to where they are needed -- was to be used to operate the 2,600 taxis. Thus far, however, only five drivers have received their "new taxis" in the "old capital taxi" project. This is because the new cars are not yet ready; fluctuations in the dollar-pound exchange rate resulted in a mix up in the car's prices, which ended up being much higher than originally planned. The purchase of the rest of the cars is "pending". The "new capital taxi" plan, on the other hand, is meant to help fresh university graduates acquire jobs as cab drivers. Slots are open for drivers of the plan's 2000 cars. These "brand new, ultra-modern cars", Ismail said, are equipped with a wireless system that enables the drivers to receive orders from the "base" on where to go next. The taxis are air- conditioned, comfortable and come with a digital metre that accurately measures the distance travelled and the fare. Companies are currently applying to be chosen by the Cairo governorate to operate these taxis. Ismail said that the companies must have "previous experience with managing a large number of cars, as well as a clean financial record". Only four companies out of the dozens that have already applied will be chosen. The thousands of remaining "traditional taxis", meanwhile, will continue to operate -- albeit with modifications, including the installation of a digital fare system meant to do away with the current "bargaining method" used to determine fares. All three of the taxi systems are also supposed to use a newly adjusted fare system. Initial suggestions indicate that the starting fare will rise from the current 60-piastre rate to between LE1.5 - LE2. Every kilometre will then cost 50 piastres instead of the current 30- piastre rate. A committee is currently studying the viability of the plan, which officials are saying should be approved within a month. Although it would appear highly questionable that the ambitious new taxi plans will come into effect within the next few weeks, Cairo governorate officials insist that all obstacles will be overcome, and the stated deadlines met. Still, many issues remain unclear. The governorate, for instance, is still negotiating on "importing a foreign specialist to supervise the implementation of all the capital taxi projects", Ismail said. While this specialist has yet to be chosen, "we are searching for him," he said. Other pending issues relate to the decision that all taxis operating in Greater Cairo should be using natural gas instead of petrol in order to bring the amount of pollution in the city's air down. Up till now, only a few of the traditional, old taxis have replaced their petrol systems with natural gas. Although much publicised, taxi drivers and the general public are highly sceptical of the new plans. Sobhi Fathi, head of the Heliopolis Taxi Drivers Association, told Al- Ahram Weekly that many taxi drivers are worried that the new fare system will work "against them, rather than for them". Fathi had heard about the suggested increased fare, but he worries that many passengers will find it "too expensive, and will prefer to ride microbuses and normal buses that are cheaper". Also, he said, "if the three types of taxis are going to use the same pricing system, no one will use the old traditional taxis, whereas everyone would prefer calling a taxi that will be ready to leave when he/she wishes. But where does that leave the traditional taxi driver?" he asked. Most passengers are concerned that fares will be rising to unreasonable levels. Azza Mohamed, a housewife who frequently uses taxis, said she expects to be paying more than what she pays now with the new fare system, especially on longer trips. Whereas a trip from Heliopolis to downtown currently costs around LE10, with the new system it would cost around LE15. Commenting on whether taxis could someday become unaffordable for much of the general public, Ismail said, "if people can afford to pay LE10, then they can afford to pay LE15, and anyway this is all for the greater aim of establishing a system, and getting rid of all the current disadvantages." Ismail said taxis would be required to implement all of the new measures, or risk paying fines starting at LE100. If drivers violate the new regulations several times, their licences could be revoked. Officials also said that if the capital taxi project proves successful in Greater Cairo, it would soon be adopted by other governorates as well.
