SINGAPORE — Authorities will be studying how to simplify the taxi fare structure in Singapore, which currently differs from company to company, Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo said in Parliament today (Nov 12).

“We recognise that the current taxi fare structure is complex and confusing for commuter,” Ms Teo said.

She added that ultimately, the taxi fare structure should be one that best serves commuters’ interests.

“LTA will work with the Public Transport Council (PTC) and the taxi companies to study if and how it could be made simpler and more easily comparable across different taxi companies, “said Mrs Teo.

The impact on taxi drivers will also be considered, said Ms Teo, who was responding to parliamentary questions by Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah, Liang Eng Hwa, and MP for Mountbatten Lim Biow Chuan.

Both MPs had expressed concern on the complexity of the current taxi fare system and questioned if the current fare structure met the needs of commuters.

Mrs Teo explained that since taxi fares were deregulated in September 1998, taxi companies are allowed to set their own fares so that they can be more responsive to market conditions.

The taxi fare structure has since evolved with different surcharges to better match taxi supply with demand by giving incentives to taxi drivers to serve locations and time periods where demand is high, said Mrs Teo.

Taxi companies are required to publicise fare revisions at least one week in advance in the media and on their websites. Taxi fare information is also available on taxi stand information panels, on the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and PublicTransport@SG websites, and on fare decals in taxis.