Some 5,000 official taxi licenses have been issued since July in the Russian capital. This is part of the national taxi modernisation programme and plans are afoot for further improvements in Moscow.
Taxi ranks have been promised across the capital, and all taxis will have meters, yellow lights on the roof and chequered sides.
A new federal law introducing obligatory registration for all cabs and big fines for gypsy cab drivers has been just approved by Moscow’s Duma.
According to the new law, starting from September 1 anyone caught operating a gypsy cab can be fined up to 10,000 rubles ($300). If the perpetrator is unable to pay the fine, his or her car will be seized.
For the next year and a half, the taxi license will be free of charge.