The Fiji Taxi Association has raised $5000 to legally challenge the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) bid to introduce a mobile phone application called Vodo next year.
Association president Raben Bhan Singh said members gave $10 each to raise the funds needed to pay for a lawyer.
“This is something that we have to do because this new app is really going to affect all of our members,” he said.
Mr Singh was referring to a public notice on the LTA website calling for expressions of interest from software developers in relation to the Vodo app.
“We were given very little notice about the app, only that it was going to be introduced next year and we have to prepare for it.
“When we informed our members in Lautoka, majority of them were against it.
“So apart from having another meeting with the LTA this week, we will also be seeking legal advice for an injunction.”
Members of the Lautoka Taxi Association met last Friday to discuss the new app. According to the LTA, the Vodo app would be fully funded by licensed taxi operators.
LTA said the app would have unique settings that would benefit both drivers and passengers.
This is not the first time the association has resorted to legal action on an issue.
Last year, association members rallied together to file a successful injunction on the redraw of taxi permit holders by LTA.
This was in relation to the taxi permit lottery which introduced in excess of 1500 new taxi permits in Lautoka.
The High Court in Suva ordered the LTA to hold consultations with taxi operators before making any future determination for new taxi permit quotas and open base systems.
Meanwhile, questions sent to LTA chief executive officer Samuel Simpson and Minister for Transport Faiyaz Koya on the Vodo app issue last Friday remain unanswered.
