It seems that the reform proposed by the Ministry of Infrastructure will appeal to regulatory authorities and a large number of officials. Private taxi drivers working for themselves assume that it will be difficult for them to stay afloat under the new conditions. Many of them work from time to time, combining driving with other types of entrepreneurship.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, at least 70% of taxi drivers work without official registration. It is these drivers who will be hit first by the new requirements. In addition, the mandatory installation of meters, the requirement to keep the car in a special parking lot with a mechanic and a medical station for examining the driver before a shift clearly indicate that the market is being prepared for monopolization.
The created conditions will force private carriers to leave the market or join the fleets of large monopoly companies. Obviously, this will lead to higher ride prices. Carriers predict an increase of at least 20%, but most likely, the cost of travel will rise even more significantly.
The Kyiv City State Administration fully supports the initiatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and is ready to allocate about 300 parking areas for taxis.
