Just over half the 40 bids that were submitted for 10 taxi licences up for public tender have been accepted, according to results published by the Transport Bureau (DSAT) yesterday.
The bids in the 21 submissions ranged from 2.5 million patacas to 3.8 million patacas. The licences each have a validity of eight years and allow the holder to operate up to 50 taxis.
In order to be eligible, bidders had to be locally registered companies and provide only taxi-based services.
[See more: Taxi tender: the bids are in]
The tender process was launched on 24 November to address Macao’s woeful shortage of cabs. Demand from residents and visitors has soared since the scrapping of Covid-Zero restrictions at the start of the year, leading to long waits for taxis.
Currently, Macao’s taxi fleet consists of 1,600 vehicles, which is far from enough according to some analysts.
In an interview with local media, a DSAT representative stated that the response towards this public taxi tender was enthusiastic and that the department expects to finish reviewing the various bids by next month.
