2,500 new taxis to be introduced in Istanbul
Istanbul Municipality's transportation center has approved the decision to introduce 2,500 new taxis in the megacity. The new taxis can only be called via an application.
Duvar English
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) on Aug. 29 approved the decision to introduce new taxis in the megacity. Accordingly, 2,500 new taxis will be introduced amid concerns the current number of taxis is not sufficient.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced on Aug. 28 that they were preparing a new system for the new taxis.
Accordingly, the new taxis can only be called via an application and cannot pick up passengers on the road.
Moreover, the payments can only be made via credit card or Istanbulkart, the public transportation card of the Istanbul Municipality.
“2,500 new taxis for Istanbul. We are moving to a modern, safe, accessible, auditable, transparent, and technological taxi system. Thanks to all the constituents who supported our proposal at UKOME after long efforts,” İmamoğlu said after the decision.
Istanbul has a long-lasting taxi problem. While it has occasionally become impossible to find a taxi when needed due to their number being so low, especially after the pandemic, drivers often make headlines for rejecting customers in a bid to find others whom they can charge more.
Overcharging is another problem, with drivers taking more money from customers, often non-Turkish speakers, than they should.