Turkey: Endless taxi queues to get new taximeter in Istanbul after fare hike

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Taxi queues reaching up to seven kilometres long formed in Istanbul on Saturday, after the government updated the taximeter by increasing the opening rate.

The new fare valid as of the first day of the year was adjusted by the Transport Coordination Centre (UKOME) from 5.55 Turkish liras (0.36 euro/$0.41) to 7 Turkish liras (0.46 euro/$0.53)

“I’ve been waiting here for three hours, I’ll wait two more hours. One toll booth works. [There has been a] 100 percent increase in meter settings, 100 percent increase in fuel, but our prices are up 36 percent. We don’t know what to do,” said taxi driver Orhan Celik.

The Turkish economy is currently struggling after the lira took a record plunge against the dollar last year.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Salih Gudem, Taxi driver (Turkish): “This queue is about hikes in metering. The meter will be adjusted and updated. As you can see, we’ve been here three or four hours, and it looks like it’s going to take another three or four hours.”

SOT, Orhan Celik, Taxi driver (Turkish): “I’ve been waiting here for three hours, I’ll wait two more hours. One toll booth works. [There has been a] 100 percent increase in meter settings, 100 percent increase in fuel, but our prices are up 36 percent. We don’t know what to do. The citizen is right and we are right.”

SOT, Taxi driver (Turkish): “We’ve been in line since 1 o’clock. This has become an ordeal. They said that 1230 liras ($92) would be taken for the setting, and the 1.5 Turkish lira ($0.11) increase to the petrol again. They already took more money out of our pockets before they got the raise.”

SOT, Ugur Koturman, Taxi driver (Turkish): “Taximeters have been increased in Istanbul. In the services, the software of the taxi drivers is updated, their programs are renewed and the taxi drivers continue to work. Approximately 600 taxis have arrived so far, about 5,000 will be arranged. It could take a few days or even a week for it all to be over. The procedures are long, taking about 45 minutes. Taxis are first thrown new software and then new tariffs are introduced. Once the tariff is in place, they are sealed and taxi drivers start their new business.”

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