SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a street-hail service operator licence to GrabCab, making it the country’s sixth taxi operator. GrabCab is a subsidiary of Grab Rentals and the sister company of GrabCar, which holds a ride-hail service operator licence and a car-pool service operator licence. GrabCab’s entry into the street-hail sector brings the total number of taxi operators to six. This would provide drivers and commuters with more choices and is expected to boost taxi supply, LTA said on Wednesday (Apr 2). The other current taxi operators are CityCab, CDG, Prime, Strides and Trans-cab. Under the licence, GrabCab will be allowed a three-year grace period to progressively expand its fleet to meet the minimum fleet size requirement of 800 taxis. The licence will start on Apr 9, 2025 and is valid for 10 years. GrabCab will need to comply with the conditions of its licence, including meeting LTA’s safety standards and ensuring that partnership arrangements with drivers are non-exclusive in nature. LTA said GrabCab’s licence terms are consistent with those of other existing street-hail operators. “GrabCab must ensure that its taxis are easily identifiable by street-hail customers, including having a prominent rooftop sign and a distinctive livery scheme. Its vehicle models must be approved by LTA, and must meet requirements such as having sufficient boot space to carry a folded wheelchair or luggage.” GrabCab’s street-hail services must also follow the same taxi fare structure components as other street-hail operators, and its fare must be prominently displayed, so that passengers are informed of the applicable fare rates.