Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the taxi fare transactions recorded by the Dubai Taxi Corporation and its franchise companies, and paid through NoL and credit cards has surged to Dh2.21 million ($601,651) in 2017.

The number reflects an increase of about 731 per cent from the level of transactions clocked last year, which amounted to 266,330 transactions, said the RTA in a statement.

Adel Shakri, the director of Transportation Systems at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said the hike in transactions from 266,330 in 2016 to 2.21 million last year is indicative of the remarkable public acceptance of these e-payment means as they are smooth and sophisticated."

"It also reflects our efforts in supporting the Smart City initiative of our government, and contributes to the delivery of our first and third strategic goals: Smart Dubai and People Happiness," he stated.

Shakri said the introduction of new technologies for payment of taxi fare through NoL and credit cards could be possible thanks to the co-ordination with the Network International Company; the supplier of e-payment devices fitted to taxicabs.

According to him, the number of transactions paid using NoL cards leapfrogged 13,904 transactions in 2016 to 140,115 transactions, whereas transactions processed using credit cards has vaulted from 252,426 transactions in 2016 to 2,073,119 transactions.

Shakri said that the RTA had rewarded drivers who contributed to the enhanced use of those two e-payment methods.

The underlying objective is to foster a competitive spirit between cabdrivers in motivating riders to use those two cards; which eases the lacking change problems associated with cash payments, he added.-TradeArabia News Service