Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, January 3
Problem with CNG refuelling station leaves taxi drivers stuck in long queues
SINGAPORE: It was not a good start to the New Year for many Prime taxi drivers.
Many were stuck in long queues because there was a problem with the only compressed natural gas or CNG refuelling station, located on Jurong Island.
A dissatisfied group of taxi drivers gathered outside the Prime Taxis office on 2 Jan to meet their management.
Prime Taxis is one of the smallest and newest players in the taxi market, with just under 100 cabs using Compressed Natural gas or CNG.
The drivers said that on New YearÂ’s Eve, a problem developed with the pumps at the only CNG refuelling station on Jurong Island.
So a usually—10—minute wait to fill their CNG tanks with gas, became a two to three hour affair.
Taxi—driver Charan Singh, said: “Problem is that (when the) gas pump station breaks down, we cannot get gas (and) have to queue for 2 to 3 hours. One day too times how many hours I lose? How to continue driving like this? Now the fares are so bad and business is dull — how to manage the rental?"
Another taxi—driver, Tan Ah Kin, said:"We used to drive 10—12 hours one day — now at the very most you can drive 4—5 hours. So the waiting time is going to kill us."
What is worse is that the company has not raised its metered fares and wonÂ’t do so for at least three months.
The company has only imposed the city surcharge from 1 Jan 2008 but most passengers donÂ’t know this.
So the drivers are suffering the same drop in business as other cab drivers by as much as 30 per cent.
In a statement, SembCorp Industries, which runs the CNG station, said one of its two compressors had an unusual malfunction and the spare part that is needed should arrive within a week.
In the meantime, the company is exploring all possible solutions and has advised some users to switch to petrol for now.
Prime Taxi management said it is still working out solutions to alleviate the taxi driversÂ’ woes.
This includes possible rental rebates and petrol vouchers.
Mr Tan Soon Chye, General Manager of the Taxi Division for Prime Car Rental and Taxi Services, said: “While the gas company is doing their best to rectify the situation, we at Prime Taxis had a dialogue with taxi masters and we have worked out a package to alleviate their problems at this time while the pump is undergoing repair."
One of the main problems that has left taxis idling is that there is only one CNG refuelling station in Singapore which is located on Jurong Island.
However, three more such refuelling stations are expected to open throughout the rest of the year with the next one expected to open in about two weeks time. —CNA/vm