Have a proper map displayed in the taxis for everyone to see so that there will be no confusion.
That is the suggested solution several passengers and taxi drivers gave my paper regarding the snafu over the implementation of the City Area surcharge.
A passenger who boards a taxi in the City area between 5pm and midnight from Mondays to Saturdays has to pay a $3 surcharge.
But several readers say that some cabbies have been arbitrarily imposing the surcharges even if the point of hire is outside the City area.
According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) website (www.lta.gov.sg), the demarcated areas considered as the CBD include Tanjong Pagar, Republic Boulevard and Havelock Road.
Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman from ComfortDelGro, said: 'The $3 City Area surcharge is applicable if a taxi is hired within the CBD and the Orchard Road stretch.'
Unlike ComfortDelGro, Premier Taxis and SMRT do not include the Orchard Road stretch as part of the City area.
Premier Taxis' managing director Lim Chong Boo said that the boundaries stated for the company's City area surcharge are in accordance with the CBD areas as defined by LTA on its website.
Still, some drivers my paper spoke to have a sketchy understanding of the areas themselves.
Mr Suffian Muhamed, 51, who has been a cabbie for 17 years, said: 'I have a rough idea but I don't think there is an official place where we drivers can go to for information.'
Another driver, Mr K.C. Wong, 46, who has driven for five years, said: 'I'm guessing it is in the CBD area but I'm not sure whether other areas like Orchard Road are included.'
Both drivers requested that their companies not be named.
However, passengers and taxi drivers agree that having one uniform map for display will go some distance to solve the problem.
Mr Suffian said: 'This way, passengers can see for themselves which areas the surcharge are implemented and won't get cheated.'
When contacted, an LTA spokesman said that the surcharge is independently imposed by the taxi companies themselves.
'If passengers are unsure whether the city surcharge is applicable, they can contact the taxi companies' hotlines or Customer Service Centre for assistance.'
