June 13: The government is making preparations to classify the vehicles used as taxis into three categories.

The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has issued a draft of the 'Standards for Vehicles Used as Taxis, 2080' to classify taxis. The department has requested one and all to send advice, suggestions and feedbacks through email and Facebook page regarding the draft by June 19.

According to the draft, taxis will now be classified into three categories: ordinary, deluxe and luxury cabs. The department is preparing to classify the taxis according to their size, capacity and available facilities.

An ordinary taxi should have a minimum engine capacity of eight hundred cc or more. In case of an electric vehicle, the minimum ratio between the energy stored in the battery (kilowatt hours) and the total weight of the vehicle (kg) should be 0.012. Such taxis should have at least sound system (speaker) in the front and back of the vehicle for entertainment.

A deluxe taxi should have a minimum engine capacity of 1,200 cc or more. In case of an electric vehicle, the minimum ratio between the energy stored in the battery (kilowatt hours) and the total weight of the vehicle (kg) should be 0.019. It has been proposed that such taxis should have a sound system (speaker), at least one display with a touch screen, a window that opens and closes with an electric switch, an automatic air conditioning system, and a rear reading lamp.

According to the draft, luxury taxis should have a minimum engine capacity of 2000 cc or more. In case of electric vehicles, the minimum ratio between the energy stored in the battery (kilowatt hours) and the total weight of the vehicle (kg) should be 0.025. This class of taxis should have a sound system (speaker) in front of the vehicle for entertainment, a display with at least two "touch screens" for the back row of the vehicle, windows that can be opened and closed by an electric switch, and automatic environment control with air quality control. Also, WiFi internet facility, 'head rest', 'cup holder', 'reading lamp', 'DC or AC power outlet for charging mobiles and electronic equipment' should be available for the front and back of the taxi.

The classified taxis must have vehicle markings to show the class. An ordinary taxi should have an 'O' mark on the upper corner of the front window towards the driver’s seat, on the rear right and left door glass and on the right side corner of the rear window. In the same way, deluxe taxis should have the mark 'D' and 'L' for luxury taxis.

Also, taxis should have lights on the roof. According to the draft, the light should be green when the taxi is empty, red when the vehicle is occupied, and white when the vehicle is not in service or off duty.

Also, every taxi will have to install a digital fare meter with a printer and a GPS navigation system with a display.

The department has also proposed fares according to the classification of the taxis. In case of an ordinary taxi, the fare rate set by the government of Nepal will remain the same, while the fare of deluxe taxis will be 20 percent higher than the ordinary ones. In addition, the department has proposed a hundred percent or double the fare for luxury taxis than the fare of ordinary taxis.