A number of taxi companies have announced that the additional surcharge of $3 implemented last month would be extended until the end of 2022.
The extra surcharge was originally meant to only last until June 30, but at several taxi companies, including Strides Taxi, ComfortDelGro Taxi, Premier Taxi, and Prime Taxi said they’ve extended it.
The additional surcharge, which began on May 20, has meant that taxi trips from the airport will cost an extra S$8 from 5 pm to 11:59 pm every day and an additional S$6 at any other period, an increase from the usual S$5 surcharge on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5 pm to 11:59 pm and S$3 at all other times.
However, even with the extra surcharge, this amount is still not enough to cover petrol costs and there were long queues to pick up passengers, said taxi drivers.
Inflation has hit many Singaporeans hard, especially the rising prices of food and fuel.
Many netizens, sympathetic to the struggles of taxi drivers with stretching their funds, did not protest the additional surcharge.
“Taxi companies are right in doing so given the current high cost of fuel,” wrote one commenter.
“$8 surcharge still okay,” wrote another.
“Almak (sic) still too cheap la,” commented one.
Several commenters pointed out that if people can afford to travel outside Singapore, then the additional surcharge should not be a problem.
Others wrote that if people had a hard time with the surcharge, there are plenty of other transport options.
/TISG