In an update released by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai taxi riders will no longer have to go through unnecessarily longer routes because they can now set their destination and know the cost prior to the start of the ride.
The new initiative by the RTA is called ‘Tech Taxi’, which will allow all RTA taxi passengers to utilize value-added services via the free WiFi that is already available onboard.
Dubai Commuters to Know Taxi Fare, Route before Ride Begins
The update was announced along with several new initiatives at this year’s Gitex Technology Week, which is being held from October 6 to October 10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.
According to Khalid Al Awadi, the director of transportation system at RTA, “When the riders use the free WiFi for browsing, they will also get some value-added services such as setting their destination, instead of describing to the driver where they want to go.”
He added that the authority has tapped on Google’s technology for this purpose.
Al Awadi also shared, “We are also integrating our services with Google for voice for translations, where 26 languages are available. This way, customers can speak with their drivers in their language. The customer can also share their live location with their friends or family, so they can track them online.”
In line with this, the transportation director noted that online payment has been made available too, which will enable riders to settle their fare at the end of the journey.
Al Awadi explained that the RTA’s goal is to expand the new initiative to all 10,000 RTA taxis in the emirate by the end of the year.
RTA taxis can also be booked via the Careem app, which was announced earlier this year.
The exciting new venture introduced by the RTA will set drivers’ and passengers’ expectations as to how the trip will take place so that no one will be at a disadvantage, unlike before when drivers weren’t familiar with the exact destination and had to figure out the best (or longer) route to get there, or when the passenger (as in the case of visitors), could not fully provide the correct information to get to the right location.
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