DOHA - Around 200 of the old orange-and-white cabs are yet to complete the formalities of handing over their licence plates to the Public Transport Company (Mowasalat).
According to Fahad Al Sulaiti of Mowasalat's Finance Department and the man responsible for collecting the surrendered plates, completion of the process is just a matter of procedure. "The plate numbers are now being submitted and in the meantime, the vehicles are not being allowed to ply on the streets."
Once the plate number is brought, the department checks that the driver has no outstanding debts such as bank loans and the like. If there are no dues, a voucher is handed over and then there is a three-day wait while the Traffic and Patrol Department finalises the paperwork.
The Department then gives permission for the old taxis to be used as private vehicles after the requisite paint job. "However, in case there are any dues on the part of the driver, he will be given time to settle matters. But even after the time allotted is over and he is still unable to resolve his financial situation, the case will be handed over to the concerned authorities for legal procedures," said Fahad.
He said he had witnessed cases where drivers had not paid their dues to their sponsors which have led to delays in having their plates being officially handed over to the transport company. "Many plates have also not been accepted as the driver may have had traffic offences registered against him," said Fahad.
"Accumulated debts to sponsors by drivers are not our responsibility," the official stressed.
In the new scheme of things, he said, drivers now have rights and legal guarantees. As for the old cabs, Fahad said: "All of us know many did not have air-conditioning or even seat-belts. They had faulty brakes, battered passenger seats and were not properly maintained. Some were also running even though their registrations had expired."
© The Peninsula 2007
