The Land Transport Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, has lifted the freeze on Licensed Taxi (LT) Public Service Vehicle permits, effective immediately.
The Cabinet-endorsed decision introduces reforms aimed at improving fairness, transparency and accountability in the taxi industry.
The Ministry says this also includes removal of the Open Taxi Rank System and Barrel Draw System.
Applications will open from the 8th of April.
Meanwhile, Public Service Vehicle (PSV) permits can no longer be transferred through sale and purchase agreements.
The directive, which took effect last Friday means that the LTA will no longer recognise or process any PSV permit transfers conducted as commercial transactions.
LTA Chief Executive Officer, Irimaia Rokosawa says the move is aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and ensuring fairness in the public transport sector.
Rokosawa says in the past, PSV permits were often treated as tradable commodities, leading to their commercialisation and limiting access for individuals who depend on the sector for their livelihood.
He further says that the new rule is intended to restore integrity to the system and ensure permits are distributed in a transparent and equitable manner.
Under the new policy, all sale-based transfers are now strictly prohibited, and any pending or incomplete transactions of this kind will not be recognised.
However, the Authority will still allow permit transfers under specific and exceptional circumstances, including transfers within immediate family based on love and affection, migration of the permit holder, medical grounds where the holder can no longer operate or death of the permit holder, processed through legal channels.
Rokosawa says these conditions ensure that transfers only occur in genuine situations rather than for profit.
The LTA is urging permit holders and the public to comply with the new rules and avoid entering into arrangements that violate the directive.
