Al-Khanji (second-right) with Bahzad (left), al-Emadi, and Maydeen at the signing ceremony.

By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

By year-end there should be about 1,800 taxis operated by Karwa franchisees, besides the more than 1,500 operated directly by the government transport company Mowasalat.
This was announced at a meeting where agreements were signed between Mowasalat and its two existing partner franchisees, Al Million and Al Ijarah, in which the two agree to add 150 cars each to their existing fleet in the coming months.
Mowasalat’s director of strategy and business development Nasser al-Khanji said that the two companies would strengthen their fleet in line with the growing requirements of the local market.
The Mowasalat official said the companies have 500 cars each on the roads now, with the new additions bringing their fleet strength to 650 each.
Al-Khanji also announced that Karwa’s third taxi franchisee, Petro Qatar, would begin operations soon, also with a fleet of 500 cars.
The official said that with the implementation of the taxi franchise programme, Karwa is reaching its targets for more new taxis on the road to meet the requirements of commuters much earlier than expected.
“We have become quicker than ever before in meeting the customers’ requirements these days. The decision to launch 300 cars by the two franchisees in less than a year after they started their operations shows how determined and committed Mowasalat is in delivering quality taxi services in the country,” said al-Khanji.
Mowasalat, he said, started the taxi franchise programme with a view to giving opportunities to the local companies to take part in the country’s development.
Al-Khanji said that the franchise system is working well and is proving to be practical, effective and efficient in meeting the requirements of public transport users.
The Mowasalat official said the country would be witnessing more developments in the public transport sector.
While hoping that Mowasalat would continue to play a major role in public transportation in the coming years, al-Khanji said he expects the company to make forays into such areas as bus rapid transit, water taxis and metro.
Besides al-Khanji, Mowasalat director of operations (taxi and limousines) Ali Abdulla Bahzad, Ali Ijarah Leasing Company chief executive Hamad al-Emadi, and Al Million Trading & Contracting managing director Kader Maydeen attended the signing ceremony.