Do away with all sorts of surcharges
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Singapore must have the most complicated taxi fare system on the planet. And the authorities have just made it worse (Green light for taxi firms to adopt surge pricing; March 18).
The authorities should set a starting price and a price-per-kilometre charge, and do away with the surcharges as these tend to affect the taxi supply on the streets.
Try flagging down a taxi at about 10.45pm. Often, none is available until after 11pm - when the surcharge kicks in.
Also, the long queue of taxis at Changi Airport is due to the airport surcharge. Many cabbies flock there because they are hoping for a big fare, and they often spend at least half an hour waiting to pick up a passenger.
Measures like these tend to reduce the number of taxis plying the roads.
David Goh Kia Ngan
