By Khaled Al-Abdulhadi
KUWAIT: Taxis are a significant traffic burden, and the interior ministry is actively working to address this issue. Taxis are not considered economically beneficial for the country, and the underdeveloped tourism sector cannot justify their high numbers. Al-Jarida newspaper interviewed the General Director of the Traffic Department at the Interior Ministry Yousif Al-Khadda and asked about the issue of taxi drivers causing traffic jams.
He confirmed that there are 10,400 taxis in the country, with 4,700 operating on demand. The ministry is taking strict measures against them, including recording violations that could lead to the impoundment of their vehicles.
Reducing number of taxis
Government sources with knowledge of the matter revealed that the taxi problem in Kuwait will be discussed in an upcoming meeting involving the ministry of interior and the supreme committee for addressing demographics led by Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah. Authorities, particularly the ministry of interior, are of the view that there are too many taxis in Kuwait, leading to unnecessary traffic congestion.
Furthermore, the taxi industry’s contribution to the country’s economy is minimal, as drivers typically work for sponsors in exchange for money, while the state bears the burden of their impact on public services. A proposal has been prepared by a technical committee to address this issue. The Cabinet believes that the current state of the taxi industry is uncivilized and creates security problems. The proposal suggests holding public auctions for well-established taxi companies, as is the practice in many countries.
These companies would manage and operate taxis in exchange for a fee charged by the state, with the winning company responsible for the insurance of its employees in terms of health and housing. Under this proposal, taxis would be required to adhere to specific clothing and technical standards at taxi stops and passenger loading stations. Electronic mechanisms for requesting taxis would be implemented, allowing passengers to track their taxi’s arrival time and retrieve lost items.
These measures enjoy the support of government agencies, including the ministry of public works, which believes that Kuwait’s streets are experiencing excessive vehicle pressure beyond their annual capacity. The current solutions are seen as temporary, pending the implementation of metro projects and improvements to the bus system.
Enhancing bus lines
State-owned bus lines are seen as a crucial solution to improving traffic flow. In a 2018 article by Al-Rukaibi and Al-Kheder, it was concluded that "public bus services need significant improvements to attract more passengers and reduce the reliance on private cars in Kuwait”.
This could be achieved by optimizing bus stops and their spacing to reduce wait times. Their survey found that most bus passengers are expatriates, so stations and routes in areas densely populated by expatriates should be enhanced. This consideration aligns with recent interior statistics showing that Kuwaiti citizens predominantly use personal cars and rarely use public transport, if at all.