In an endeavour to digitalise public services, the Motor Vehicle Licence (MVL) System enabling taxi operators to renew their licences and make online payments for Road Tax, was launched today in presence of the Minister of Land Transport, Mr Mahomed Osman Cassam Mahomed, and the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul, in Port-Louis.
On the occasion, the official website of the Taxi Operators Welfare Fund (TOWF), providing an accessible platform for information on the Fund and its activities, was also unveiled.
In his remarks, Minister Mahomed highlighted the important role played by taxi operators in the daily commute of citizens, particularly in providing transport during emergencies. He stressed that reinforcing the TOWF would contribute to improving the welfare of taxi operators and enable them to benefit from various grants and schemes.
He also underlined a range of digitalisation projects being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation. These include online payment of tax declarations, the penalty-point system, digital driving licences and a fleet management system.
Furthermore, Minister Mahomed stated that the existing system of the National Land Transport Authority was obsolete adding that a tender had been launched to upgrade and enhance its performance. Both Ministries are also collaborating on the introduction of cashless ticketing and a smart parking application aimed at improving efficiency.
With regard to regulations for online booking platforms, he pointed out that some 3,000 taxi operators are already registered on an electronic platform, underscoring the need for an appropriate regulatory framework.
For his part, Minister Ramtohul stated that the launch is in line with Government’s vision, as outlined in the Digital Transformation Blueprint, to modernise public services and make them more accessible to citizens. The new online system, he noted, would help reduce queues at Post Offices and NLTA offices while also providing a database of taxi operators. He encouraged taxi operators to register on MAUPASS to facilitate access to digital public services.
He further recalled that a number of services are already available through the KOREK super app, including the Artificial Intelligence-enabled water leakage reporting service of the Central Water Authority, real-time national power supply information of the Central Electricity Board, the penalty-point system and online driving licence services, thereby providing citizens with quicker and easier access to public services.
The Fund, established under the TOWF Act 2021, aims to cater for the advancement and promotion of the welfare of taxi operators in Mauritius and their families. It provides a range of schemes namely medical assistance scheme, death grant scheme, hardship scheme and educational grant scheme. Out of a total of 7,802 taxi operators, 6,567 are currently registered with the TOWF.
Date: 17 August 2026
Source: GIS News
Topics: Technology, Transport