Thimphu’s Taxi Tshogpa says the government ought to listen to their voice as well. The statement comes after the government rejected the tshogpa’s proposal to raise their retirement age to 65 from 60.
“I requested the government time and again to extend the age limit for taxi drivers and be allowed to drive until 65. We have many who are the bread earners depending solely on their taxis,” said the committee’s Tshogpa, Dorji Wangchuk.
Kabisa Talog’s MP, Dophu Dukpa had raised the issue in the parliament, last week.
“Taxi drivers say 60 years is not too old to drive. It is because of better health facilities in the country.”
He said the cab drivers have told him it is difficult to pay back loans they took to buy taxi.
Information and communications minister, DN Dhungyel said after a discussion with Road Safety and Transport Authority and Taxi Tshogpo, which the Prime Minister chaired in March, they did not see the need to increase the age limit.
He also said, driving taxi and private vehicle is different. “
A taxi driver has to cover more distance and it is not safe for the drivers as well as the passengers.”
Today, there are over 4,000 taxis in the country.
