Taxi repainting process starts in northern Afghanistan

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): The process to change the color of taxis from yellow to turquoise has been started in northern provinces, and officials in Kunduz province say 6,000 cars will be repainted.

Head of vehicles’ registration department in Kunduz, Abdul Qayoum Ibrahimi, announced the initiation of taxi-repainting process in Baghlan, Kunduz, Samangan, Takhar and northeastern Badakhshan provinces.

Based on a contract with a private company, the color of 6,000 vehicles will be changed from yellow to turquoise.

Ibrahimi said: “The number of vehicles and taxis that operate as cabs in northern zone of the country reaches 6,000 and so far 400 of them have been repainted and all of them will be repainted.”

Officials believe the move will help surge government’s revenue and reduce crimes.

Kunduz security chief Mohammad Rahim Zulfaqar said: “Changing the color of taxis is very important for security and to control and reduce crimes.”

Kunduz transport director Mohammad Hussain Fatih said: “Vehicles with legal documents cannot escape, the registration of undocumented vehicles will increase government’s revenue and the process will be computerized in near future and the owner of each vehicle will be able to pay charges through an online system.”

A number of rivers think difference in the color of ordinary cars and cabs is crucial. A driver Hafizullah said: “This step is very good, it can control crimes because all cars will be registered biometrically.”

Nik Mohammad, a driver who recently repainted his car, said: “It is good for both passengers and drivers because in the past every ordinary car would pick passengers.”

Before this, the process of repainting taxis had been carried out in Kabul and some other provinces.

aw/ma