Pretoria - The eThekwini Municipality has teamed up with Durban taxi owners and independent bus operators to ensure an effective and efficient public transport system during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
With three days to go before the tournament kicks-off, eThekwini Municipality Mayor Obed Mlaba has unveiled special shuttle services that will operate from Durban's major shopping centres and the King Shaka International Airport during the tournament.
The newly branded taxis and buses will operate from the three main Park and Ride facilities, Pavilion, Gateway and Galleria shopping centres.
A contract involving 240 taxis and approximately 150 buses, including three Sukuma buses for the disabled, was signed by the municipality.
The buses will operate approximately every 15 minutes between 05:00 and 21:00 daily.
The airport shuttle service will operate between the King Shaka International Airport and the CBD transport hub next to the Workshop complex with some trips passing through Umhlanga.
Launching the shuttle services on Sunday, Mlaba pointed out that the partnership will bring great dividends.
"In years to come, people will look back at eThekwini as having led the way in building an integrated public transport system - co-operatively bringing in all stakeholders such as the taxi owners and independent bus operators," Mlaba said.
City Manager, Dr Michael Sutcliffe, told the drivers that the city expected only a few things from them: "Smile and be tourist ambassadors, obey the rules of the road and keep the noise in taxis down to a minimum."
