A company has been entrusted with calling taxis for the transportation vulnerable in Miryang for 17 years... voices of relief

As it is pointed out that Miryang City in Gyeongsangnam-do strictly applies the entrustment qualifications for special transportation (call taxis for the transportation vulnerable) and that one company has been monopolizing it for 17 years, there are voices calling for easing the eligibility criteria for participation.

According to Miryang City on the 14th, a taxi company in the Miryang area has been entrusted with the city's call taxi business for the transportation vulnerable from 2009 to the present.

Call taxis are vehicles equipped with wheelchair access devices so that disabled people who use wheelchairs can use them comfortably.

Currently, the city has 21 units, and annual city expenses of approximately 1.7 billion won are provided to the contracting company.

The trustee company is responsible for operating and maintaining call taxi vehicles for three years, as well as user reception and dispatch assistance.

However, there are also claims that the city is restricting broad participation by strictly applying the consignment qualifications for this project.

Currently, companies wishing to participate in this project in Miryang must meet criteria such as having a dedicated garage area of ​​300 m2 or more and having a transportation worker lounge and waiting room at the time of application.

It is different from other local governments that apply it relatively flexibly, such as being a passenger automobile transportation business under the Passenger Transportation Business Act or a transportation business that can secure a garage for special transportation.

Regarding this, an official in the transportation industry in the Miryang area said, "As the city originally set conditions that made it difficult for other companies to participate, consignment has no choice but to be limited to specific companies. Since it is virtually a monopoly, companies have no choice but to neglect convenience of use and quality of service."

This same point was similarly raised in the administrative affairs audit of Miryang City Council last September.

At the time, several lawmakers requested that the conditions for participation in the consignment be relaxed and the quality of service for call taxi drivers and citizens be improved through management and supervision by the city.

Independent lawmaker Heo Hong said, “As the same qualification standards are repeated, only certain companies continue to participate, which in turn creates unnecessary misunderstandings as if they are providing benefits.” He added, “The city needs to apply the standards flexibly as other companies are expanding the door to allow disabled groups to participate as well.”

The city's stance is that once the contract with company A ends in February next year, it will relax the standards in a later announcement.

A city official said, "Currently, all qualification standards must be met at the time of application for the project, but in the future, we plan to change the standards to allow participation if a lounge or waiting room can be provided even after application."