50% rise in taxi fares irks citizens in Jeddah

JEDDAH: Citizens and residents here are complaining that taxi drivers have raised the fares by 50 percent following the rise in the cost of gasoline.
“Since the announcement of the new prices for gasoline in the Kingdom, several taxi owners took advantage and raised their prices for transporting passengers in Jeddah neighborhoods,” said citizen Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani.
“I used pay SR20 to go about his daily errands but after the new increase he now pays SR35,” he was quoted as saying by a local newspaper.
Citizen Khalid Al-Mahmadi said he was surprised to find that taxi fares increased about 50 percent. “The owners of these taxis said they increased prices because of the new gasoline pricing,” he said.
Umm Ahmed, a teacher who goes to school in the same taxi every day, said the driver demanded an extra SR500 although she is only a short distance from her workplace.
Jamal Mohammad, a resident of the city, called on the city authorities to take action and place controls over fare increases.
Saeed Al-Bassami, chairman of the land transport committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The Ministry of Transport, the competent body, put in place specific prices.” He urged citizens and residents to report violations.
The Cabinet in December approved increases in the pump prices of gasoline as well as electricity and water rates to offset the slide in oil prices. Octane 91 rose from 45 halalas to 75 halalas, while Octane 95 increased from 60 halalas to 90 halalas.