BANGKOK, 17 December 2019: The Thai government says it will legalise Grab taxi services effective March 2020, while the controversial motorcycle service remains in the air pending further studies.
According to a report by the National News Bureau, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said the application to legalise Grab services will be submitted to the cabinet and should be approved by March.
Ministerial regulations will have to be updated to allow private vehicles to be used for Grab services and licenses will be issued for corporate operators of the Grab services.
Traisulee confirmed the government intends to legalise public vehicle services in order to offer a competitive service that will benefit users.
Many private vehicles are currently being used for the Grab services illegally as they are registered as private vehicles and are not authorised to offer taxi-hailing services.
Opposition to Grab taxis has been intense in tourist destinations with traditional taxi operators in some instances confronting Grab taxi drivers often inconveniencing passengers.
(Source: NNT)
