Tbilisi City Hall is providing a cashless and more convenient payment option for passengers of category A taxis in Tbilisi for customers of the Bank of Georgia.
Starting October 1, 2019 when all new taxi rules will take effect, Bank of Georgia customers will be able to pay taxi fares using a quick response (QR) code, announced Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze today when presenting the new payment system.
Bank of Georgia customers will be able to download the application to their smartphones and pay with it. Taxi drivers with category A licenses will have a QR code system directly linked to their bank accounts, where paid money will be automatically transferred.
In doing so, taxi drivers will be able to establish a bank history by demonstrating cash flow, and thus become creditworthy and able to use other banking products.
"This will allow them to prove that they are employed and have a constant source of income. Revenue confirmation will allow taxi drivers to access banking products”, read the press release published by the Bank of Georgia.
Category A taxi drivers will be able to apply to Bank of Georgia branches to have the QR code system installed in their cars free of charge.
Tbilisi City Hall expressed hope that other banks in Georgia will also join the project and offer innovative cashless payment systems.
Following the implementation of the taxi reforms, taxi licenses will be divided into categories A and B in Tbilisi.
A category taxis will be the colour white, left-hand drive, with four doors and a trunk, in addition to a taxi sign with the inscription ‘TAXI Tbilisi’.
Category A taxis will be able to pick up passengers on the street and they will also enjoy free parking in special areas designated for taxis.
Category B drivers will be permitted to work for taxi applications such as Taxify or Uber and provide their services to the population online – they will not, however, be allowed to pick up passengers from the street.
Source - Agenda.ge