TWO temporary taxi stands will be set up for the Chinese New Year festivities at Marina Bay and Chinatown, while more such stands are planned for other major events this year.
The Taxi Operators' Associations, which represents six taxi companies, said the pick-up points will be more convenient for passengers who usually have to walk a fair distance to find a stand, and will hopefully boost revenues for cabbies.
Mr Seng Han Thong, its adviser, said temporary stands helped raise the income of cabbies during the Formula One race last September.
Speaking to reporters at Marina Bay after the ground-breaking ceremony for the River Hongbao display, Mr Seng said: 'Whatever festival you can think of, we should do: National Day, Deepavali, Christmas light-up.'
Drivers are looking for ways to generate business as passenger numbers dwindle amid a deepening recession.
According to statistics from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), taxi ridership dipped 7 per cent from August to October last year, bottoming out at about 855,000 passengers.
The Taxi Operators' Associations has also asked the LTA to allow taxi companies to lay up their unhired taxis.
Laying up a vehicle means road tax payments are temporarily suspended and the clock on certificates of entitlement is stopped. Industry sources said there are more than 1,000 cabs waiting for potential drivers, out of the 24,000 registered taxis here.
For the full story, read Saturday's edition of The Straits Times
