December 25: With the number of taxis increasing rapidly, working as a taxi driver in the capital city is not easy. During the day, they have to stand in the dusty taxi parking and compete with other taxi drivers for passengers. They no longer have to do this.

Under a new system introduced by the taxi service center, they just have to wait in line behind a board indicating the various destinations.

If you are visiting the taxi parking area to travel anywhere now, you are in for a pleasant surprise. You won’t see the taxi drivers jostling and shouting over each other for passengers. You also won’t have to trouble looking for a taxi traveling to your destination.

There are now small boards indicating the different destinations and the taxis waiting in a orderly line behind the different boards. The new system was introduced by the taxi service center recently.

Taxi drivers say it has saved them a lot of time and trouble. Kinley Penjor a taxi driver said they do not have to shout to get passengers. He said the system also ensures that all the taxi drivers get an equal share of passengers and daily earnings.

Passengers who travel by taxis on a daily basis like Tshering Yuden said the new system is more comfortable. She said previously she has to ask around to find a taxi driver who is going to Lungtenphu. Not any more. Now all she has to do is look for a board which says Lungtenphu and hop into a taxi lined up behind the board.

Dorji Wangchuk the coordinator of the Taxi Service Centre said they are also planning to implement the same system near Lungtenzampa for taxies traveling to various parts of the country.

Recently the Taxi Service Centre introduced a 24-hour taxi service.