IEA orders all taxis to be resprayed blue and white

The General Directorate of Kabul Traffic has announced an overhaul to the taxi system in the country, including the capital, ordering all taxi owners to scrap the yellow and white theme and respray their vehicles blue and white.

The Islamic Emirate’s traffic police chief, Hasibullah Mukhtar, announced the taxi color change during a press conference at the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC) on Tuesday.

Mukhtar said Kabul Traffic is making this change as part of its attempts to develop a safer and more uniform transportation system for the entire country.

“The taxis shall be segregated from other vehicles that transfer goods,” said Mukhtar.

Mukhtar noted that currently only 20 to 30 percent of “taxis” are marked in the existing yellow and white theme, while the balance are unmarked vehicles.

This has led to security and criminal problems, which IEA hopes to mitigate through the introduction of new regulations and standards, Mukhtar said.

The General Directorate of Kabul Traffic has developed a three-month procedure for taxi owners, and the plan will be implemented across all of Afghanistan’s provinces, not just in Kabul.

The color of urban and rural cabs was changed to blue and white in accordance with the International Convention on Road Traffic, according to Kabul Traffic officials.

Taxi owners are also likely to be biometrically registered in addition to the color change. This measure is intended to reduce criminal activities, such as kidnappings and theft, that have plagued the taxi industry in Afghanistan.