Government’s sole public transport solution provider Mowasalat, which is operating the Karwa taxi and bus services, is set to float tenders for three more franchisees to enhance the taxi services in Qatar. A company statement said yesterday the tenders would be floated soon after Eid al-Adha holidays. “It is being done as part of our mission to improve the taxi services across the country,” said a Mowasalat official while adding that the decision is in line with the goals and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030, aimed at the overall development of the country. The decision to float tenders was taken after a detailed study made by the company, using the services of experts in the transport field, he said. Mowsalat feels the new decision would help more private operators to participate in the country’s growing transport sector which it expected to record a remarkable growth in the next one decade. The company said franchisee programme has been a resounding success and has helped improve the quality and availability of taxi services across the country. We are ready to share our success during the last 18 months since the operations of the franchisees began and the company is also ready to face a healthy competition in its bid to improve further the taxi operations, it said. It said further that Mowasalat’s ongoing partnership with two private operators has been highly beneficial to the public so far and the arrival of more operators would help improve the taxi services to reach international standards. Al Million was the first Karwa franchisee which started operations in July 2012 and the second company Al Ijarah hit the road towards the end of last year. Both the companies, according to Mowasalat, are currently operating 650 taxis each, besides some 1,500 taxis belonging to Mowasalat, which are also in service. Of the three companies only Mowasalat’s Karwa taxis are allowed to pick up passengers from the airport even though all the three could drop people there. http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/368087/mowasalat-set-to-float-tenders-for-three-more-taxi-companies

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