The taxi drivers are unhappy with the decision taken by the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) to stop the issue of professional driving license. They say there were not informed before the decision was taken.
The RSTA suspended the issue of professional driver license on November 6, 2013, following a directive from the government.
“There wasn’t any meeting held for us. I wasn’t aware about it until I heard it from a few friends,” said a Taxi Driver, Richen Tshering.
Some of those, who want to become taxi drivers, will have to wait, at least for a few months.
The Chief Transport Officer, Karma Pemba, said there is no point in issuing driving license when the import of vehicle has been banned by the government. “Even if they get the license, they would not have any vehicle to drive.”
But, the RSTA rule says a person is eligible to have a professional driver license if he/she has held an Ordinary Driving License for at least two years and is a minimum age of 21.
“There was a need for a review to make it better, especially in terms of service delivery, when they apply for a license,” said Karma Pemba.
He said there is also a need to simplify the procedures for those attending driving trainings and make it easier to get the drivers registered.
As per the RSTA, there are 15,000 people who holds professional driver license of which 70 percent are taxi drivers.
