Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Requirements on Licensed Taxi Rental and Private Hire Companies with Significant Market Share to Provide Call Options for Non-Technology Savvy Passengers

Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Transport whether he will consider imposing licensing conditions on companies with a significant market share of the taxi and private hire transport sectors to offer telephone booking and cash payment options so as to cater to passengers who are not technology-savvy.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1.     Call-booking trips currently make up about 1% of all point-to-point trips. As announced at the Ministry of Transport’s Committee of Supply, ComfortDelGro will continue to offer call-booking services as it currently fulfils more than 99% of these trips.

2.     All taxi and ride-hail operators already accept cash payment for street-hail and ride-hail services.