Beijing's Development and Reform Commission is hearing different
opinions about a proposed fare hike for the city's fleet of 60,000
taxis.
Beijing Transportation Bureau earlier proposed to the commission
a fare increase of 25 percent, rising the cost from 1.6 yuan (about
US$20 cents) per kilometer to 2.0 yuan (about US$25 cents).
Chai Xiaozhong, deputy director of Beijing Development and
Reform Commission who organized the hearing, said the commission
asked for opinions for 25 people representing taxi companies,
schools, research institutions, consumer associations and
factories. Fourteen of them approved the fare hikes, two gave
qualified approval and the others opposed the increases.
The price hike was proposed mainly to offset rising fuel costs
and to pay for drivers' social insurance and third-party liability,
said Yao Kuo, deputy director of Beijing Transportation Bureau.
Deputy Li Xiying, a taxi driver with Beijing Yinjian Industry
Co. Ltd.,said price hikes will provide for better driver benefits
and help fund global positioning devices that are being installed
in the cabs.
Chen Jianmin, a law professor of prestigious Tsinghua
University, said most of the 100 residents and over 40 cab drivers
she surveyed are against fare increase.
The majority of the people surveyed by Chen believe fare hikes
will very likely drive Beijingers to take black market or
unlicensed cabs thereby depriving legitimate tax drivers of
income.
Chai said the commission will fully consider the opinions it has
heard before making a final decision.
In addition to the set fare increase, the proposal also suggests
taxi fares be allowed to "float" as fuel prices change.
Taxi fares in Beijing have remained unchanged for more than five
years, while oil prices have increased from 3.2 yuan a litre in
late 2000 to today's price of 4.65 yuan.
The government and taxi companies began to give drivers a
monthly petrol subsidy of 300 yuan last year to cover the increase
in fuel. After oil prices jumped at the end of last month, taxi
drivers started to receive an additional monthly subsidy of 150
yuan. If the new fares are approved the drivers will loose these
subsidies.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2006)