Six taxi drivers have been penalized for violating the Transport Authority’s set fares.

Police began the operation on Wednesday, after a number of taxi drivers protested the Transport Authority’s decision.

It added that six drivers were fined for violating the order, from Wednesday to Friday.

The Transport Authority, on Wednesday, announced the decision to impose an MVR 750 fine on those that do not comply with its set fares.

The transport authority’s fares are: MVR 25 to drive within Male’ or Hulhumale’, MVR 60 to drive to and from Male’ and Hulhule’, MVR 60 to drive to and from Hulhule’ and Hulhumale’, and MVR 75 to drive to and from Male’ and Hulhumale’. Taxis are not allowed to charge extra for using the trunk.

However, the driver’s association has expressed concern over this, saying that the fares will not provide taxi drivers with a sustainable income since they have to incur costs for their work.

The driver’s association proposed to hike up the fares and charge MVR 5 per luggage and MVR 4 per five minutes of waiting, as before, and to set the fare in Male’ to MVR 30, MVR 100 for a drive to the airport, MVR 120 to drive to Hulhumale’ Phase 1 and MVR 150 to drive to Phase 2.