The Land Transport Authority has announced sweeping changes to the country’s taxi permit system, including the removal of the Open Taxi Rank System and the introduction of new eligibility requirements for permit holders.
In a public notice, the Authority confirmed that the Open Taxi Rank System (OTRS) has been officially discontinued. All operators who were previously operating under the system will now revert to their original taxi base or stand. Zone permit holders will also be given time to submit their base letters to the Authority.
The LTA has also removed the barrel draw system previously used for taxi stand allocations. According to the notice, future stand allocations will now follow the standard assessment and allocation process carried out by the Authority.
Under the new changes, taxi operators will now operate under a Base and Stand system. This means each operator will be assigned a specific base — which defines their area of operation — and a stand that will serve as their primary location for parking and dispatching.
Another major change is that taxi permits will now be issued only to individual persons. The Authority confirmed that permits will no longer be issued to companies or corporate entities.
In addition, a new income requirement has been introduced. Applicants seeking a taxi permit must now have a household annual income of $30,000 or below in order to qualify.
Chief Executive Officer Irimaia Rokosawa said the Authority is urging all taxi operators and stakeholders to comply with the new measures, which are aimed at ensuring a more transparent, fair and properly regulated public transport system in Fiji.
The LTA has advised operators and members of the public to contact its customer service centre for further information or clarification.
