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Dubai Taxi shifts into top gear

Filing a tender or registering a complaint could be just a click away with DTC, a subsidiary of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), launching its new-look web portal.

Speaking exclusively to Khaleej Times, the CEO of DTC, Abdul Aziz Malek, said the idea behind redesigning the site was to provide improved services to its customers.

“We have been trying to redesign the website for a long time as a lot of things were cluttered together in the old website and it was not easy to locate the required info or service. The new website has simplified everything and it is easy to use services as well as find information,” said Malek.

Listing the number of services provided online he said that “right from booking and fare details to fleet info and filing a tender, everything is located on the same page and there is no need to search for anything,”

The online taxi booking service, which was initially available only for hotels and corporates, is now open for all through the new website. To avail the service entitled ‘Web Taxi’, a user – public or corporate – has to register on the website by providing contact and identification details and choosing a login ID and password. Once the process is completed, the user can login and book a taxi whenever he/she wants. Just give a location and time and you will find the taxi at your 
doorstep.

Another important service simplified through the new website is SMS booking. There are 50 areas listed on the website along with numbers, and to avail the service a customer has to simply SMS the area number to 4774.

Elaborating on the services, Malek said that “either online or through SMS a customer can avail DTC taxi through our website. Franchise taxis could be availed by login to RTA website.”

With around 4000 vehicles at its disposal DTC has the highest number of taxis serving in Dubai and the automated dispatch centre first tries to locate a DTC taxi in the requested area, in case of its non availability the system dispatches franchise taxis.

The tender section on the website provides all the info on the dates of auction and conditions on the eligibility to take part and the documentations required. It also provides details about its key suppliers.

Through the website, public can lodge complaints about their lost items or can offer their suggestions and opinions.

Just to involve the kids into the process, the website has a children’s corner, which offers a number of games and painting opportunities for the little ones.

“This is the first time we have a children’s corner on our website, we are really excited about it. Children can download our Dubai Taxi drawings, colour them and upload them back. The best painting would be put online for everyone to see,” said Malek, “Simply log on to www.dtc.dubai.ae and you will find out all that you need to know about Dubai Taxi.”

The pink taxi or the women and family only taxis driven by Hijab-clad women were intended for women or families who don’t feel secure travelling with a male driver.

Though it serves the target audience well, what is surprising is the fact that most western tourists and families prefer the pink taxis to the normal ones.

“We ourselves were very surprised when we found that a lot of bookings for pink taxis come from hotels for their female customers or families and most of them are Western tourists,” said the Malek.

“The fact that it is driven by trained women gives the customers comfort and a sense of security,” he added.

shafaat@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE