Taxi business in doldrums

Taxi business in doldrums

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Demand for taxi service here has
dropped since the government raised fuel prices, leaving many
taxi firms in the city on the brink of bankruptcy.

An executive with a large taxi company here said each taxi
driver had seven passengers a day on average, as compared to 21
in the same period of last year.

People are choosing transportation means other than taxis due
to fare increases after the Oct. 1 fuel price rises, said Bachder
Johan, an executive with a local taxi firm.

As business was slow, Bachder said his company had grounded
some 40 percent of the company's 400 taxi cars. -- Antara