From Nov 16, Singapore and Malaysia will raise the quota of licensed cross-border taxis from 300 to 500 vehicles each, offering commuters more transport options between the two countries.
The enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme will also welcome two new ride-hail operators, CDG Zig Pte Ltd (CDG Zig) and Kumpool Sdn. Bhd. (Kumpool).
They will join GrabCar Pte Ltd which was granted a license under the scheme earlier this year, said Singapore's Ministry of Transport and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport in a joint statement on Friday (Nov 6).
The latest changes build on a series of enhancements introduced in May this year to make cross-border travel more convenient while maintaining a level playing field for operators and drivers.
Measures rolled out then included additional designated pick-up points, more flexible drop-off locations within the operating boundary, and stricter requirements aimed at curbing illegal domestic point-to-point trips.
The May changes also saw the first increase in the quota of licensed cross-border taxis, from 200 to 300 then.
According to the joint statement, commuters have enjoyed smoother and more comfortable journeys since the enhancements were introduced.
The ministries attributed this to the availability of point-to-point drop-offs in Singapore and within the operating boundary in Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai, and Senai, as well as access to larger and premium vehicle options.
Ng Lang, CEO of Land Transport Authority, said: "By expanding the availability of licensed cross-border services, we are giving travellers more options and greater flexibility for their journeys."
According to the joint statement, improvements to the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme will further strengthen the strong business linkages and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
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