TAXI OK, TAXI VIP Projects launched in Thailand

BANGKOK, November 10 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Transport, has launched its new TAXI OK and TAKI VIP Projects, under which more devices are installed in newly-registered cabs to ensure safety for both passengers and drivers. Sanit Promwong, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Land Transport, told journalists that the TAXI OK and the TAXI VIP Projects, which was inaugurated on November 9, require all newly-registered taxis to have all devices and equipment under the projects installed in their cabs with proper functions while serving their passengers. Sanit said that the required devices and equipment include the GPS Tracking System, an electronic device to identify the driver, a fare tracking meter, at least an emergency button for passengers and a snap shot-camera, all of which need to be functioned in the real time system and linked with information centers of cabs, including taxi cooperatives or authorized taxi radio centers. Besides, his department has also developed an application in which the TAXI OK and the TAXI VIP Project can be easily accessible for users on their smart phones, the online service of which will be started next month. The senior official explained that the fare of taxis under the two newly-launched projects will also be started at 35 baht as others, but cabs under the new projects are symbolized, on their roof-top, with the illuminated letters "TAXI" and "APP" in the red circles and "GPS" on the yellow circle. The senior official revealed that the "CAMERA" sign in a blue circle is also required to be clearly seen on the wind-shield in front of each cab. The senior official noted that cabs running under the TAXI VIP Project are required to have all the devices and equipment installed identically as those running under the TAXI OK Project, except that passengers of the TAXI VIP Project will be served, more comfortably, with larger-sized sedans. According to the senior official, operators of all the earlier-registered taxis are also allowed to join the TAXI OK and the TAXI VIP Projects if they have all the required devices and equipment installed in their cabs, all of which need to be checked and passed the official inspection system provided by his department, before catering for their passengers on streets. (TNA)