Passengers who come to Montenegro and cross the threshold of the Podgorica airport terminal will experience only a part of the transport chaos that takes place at this location, through taxi rides with carriers that have different license plates, fixed prices and those that are negotiated, the services of those who drive to "wild", unmarked cars...
Although the Road Traffic Inspectorate at the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs on two occasions recently checked the reception of passengers for those who drive taxis in another municipality without a license and issued 13 misdemeanor orders, these and other problems are still present. On that occasion, the inspection fined eight different companies in the minimum amount of 2.300 euros, as well as one entrepreneur in the amount of 1,5 thousand euros. The controls were based on the application of the Municipality of Zeta.
This newly formed Municipality of Zeta has actualized the fact that the airport belongs to them territorially, so according to the Road Transport Act, only taxi associations that are licensed by them and have their license plates can pick up passengers at this location. They clarified to "Vijesti" that all passengers can be brought to the airport, but that they are not allowed to receive them there, which was confirmed by the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, but in practice this does not happen.
In front of the Podgorica airport, on the basis of a public call, passengers are currently picked up by two taxi companies, "Royal Taxi" and "Halo Taxi". Part of the fleet of those companies is under the ramp directly in front of the terminal building, while part is in the parking lots not far from there, and all have Podgorica license plates. Apart from them, passengers are also picked up by shuttles and limo services.
They take off tags, negotiate prices
The "Vijesti" reporter observed several taxis from different companies picking up passengers at the airport during his one hour stay at the airport, each of which used Podgorica license plates. In addition, there are those who offer their services in front of the terminal building, and the rides start from a parking lot about fifty meters away, as well as those who remove the rotation from the roof after parking in that place. However, part of the taxi drivers with Zeta registrations said in an interview with "Vijesta" that they do not think of picking up passengers in other municipalities because the fines for drivers are around 700 euros. They did not want to reveal their names, but clarified that after transporting customers to Budva, they can often pick up tourists who stop them along the coast, but they are aware that both they and the company will pay for it.
"I was on the coast five days ago, two are standing, they stop me and want to go to Bar. I would love to take them, but I can't, the company will pay 2.300 euros", stated one of them.
One of the Zeta taxi drivers stated that currently only two companies can enter the zone closest to the airport, while the others will be able to only after the termination of the contract they have with the Airports of Montenegro (ACG). He pointed out that he heard that the contract will be terminated soon and that these companies are currently taking 90 percent of their total work. On the other hand, the taxi driver with Podgorica license plates who waits for customers in the parking lot, stated that they are aware that they are not allowed to be there, but that they have not yet been officially informed about the bans. He said that they are working like everyone else and will continue to do so as long as they are able.
They told "Vijesta" from the Municipality of Zeta that due to disagreements with the former leadership of ACG on this matter, they filed criminal charges against them. They state that they are the president of the municipality Mihailo Asanović and acting secretary Milan Stanović had several meetings with the management of ACG and that they warned them about the violation of the Road Transport Act, but that their arguments were not accepted, so they decided to file criminal charges. From this municipality, they did not say precisely who they filed against. The board of directors of that company then consisted of Eldin Dobardzic, Kemal Purišić, Slavko Vukcevic, Nebojsa Djokovic i Ilija Mugoš, while the CEO was Vladan Drasković. They expect the implementation of the Law to begin this month, which will give the official right to pick up passengers to taxi drivers who have a license from the Municipality of Zeta.
"By training our Municipal Police and Inspection Service, supervision in this case will be strengthened. We reported to the competent state inspection the illegal taxi transportation from our territory, in the sense of taking passengers by taxi associations that do not have licenses issued by our authorities, and they wrote fines according to that report. The Law on Road Transport is clear, specifically Article 86, which stipulates that passengers from the territory of a local self-government can only be picked up by taxi-associations that have a license issued by that local self-government. The airport is indisputably on the territory of the municipality of Zeta, in accordance with the Law on Territorial Organization, and therefore only taxi associations with our license, which are recognized by special ZT-TX plates, have the right to pick up passengers," the Municipality pointed out.
ACG recently received a new Board with which, as they state from the Municipality of Zeta, they managed to establish communication and clarified the regulations. They claim that the new Board of Directors has more ears and that they have taken steps towards the authorities, while they are still waiting for answers. The Municipality is convinced that the position of the authorities will not deviate from the Law.
They will extend the contracts if it is in the interest of ACG
The Ministry of Transport told "Vijesta" that it is indisputable that passengers can be picked up at the airport only by those licensed by the municipality of Zeta, but also by carriers licensed for limo service and those that provide shuttle transportation to accommodation. They pointed out that shuttle services require a contract with ACG. They also explained that they formed an opinion on this issue based on Article 86 paragraphs 3 to 7 of the Road Transport Act.
"The car-taxi carrier carries out transportation on the basis of a license issued by the competent authority of the local government. It is performed exclusively within the territory of the local self-government unit that issued the license. As an exception to paragraph 4 of this article, auto-taxi transportation may occasionally be performed from the territory of the local self-government unit that issued the license. In the case referred to in paragraph 5 of this article, the auto-taxi carrier must make the return trip with an empty vehicle. It is forbidden for an auto-taxi carrier to receive passengers outside the territory of the local self-government unit that issued the license," reads this article of the Law.
ACG explained to "Vijesta" that they have a contract with two taxi companies from Podgorica, "Royal plus" and "Halotaksi", on the rental of parking spaces and the provision of these services at the airport there. They stated that the contracts with them last another year or two and contain clauses for unilateral and early termination of the contract.
They also pointed out that these companies got taxi stands after public invitations and signed contracts. As they pointed out, the contract with the company "Royal plus" was concluded on April 4 last year, while the public invitation was announced on February 24, 2023. They added that the company leased 14 parking spaces along the main road, as well as a space of two square meters for the counter in the terminal building. The contract was concluded for a certain period of time, up to two years with the possibility of extension for another 12 months, and a maximum of five years in total. They state that there will be extensions if it is in the business interest of ACG.
The contract with the company "Halotaksi", as they said, was signed on January 11 this year, based on a public call from November 10, 2023, after the third announcement. That company leased ten parking spaces in the bus parking lot, along with a space of 2 square meters in the terminal building. And this contract was concluded for a certain period of time, up to two years, with the possibility of extension for 12 months, and the longest for five years.
"In both cases, there are clauses that refer to the termination of the contract before the agreed term and to unilateral termination. In both contracts, the following is decisively stated: this contract is conditioned by the possession of the appropriate license or other documents necessary for carrying out the carrier's activities. The carrier is obliged, after the conditions are created, for the local self-government on whose territory the Podgorica airport is located (Municipality of Zeta) to issue a license for the performance of auto-taxi transportation services, to provide the same in accordance with the Law on Road Traffic", the ACG pointed out. .
They also explained that they are not responsible for demarcating Podgorica and Zeta, that they communicate with the Government and that their goal is to protect the interests of the company and passengers.
"The airport is indisputably on the territory of the Municipality of Zeta, according to the Law on Territorial Organization, and therefore only taxi associations with our license, which are recognized by special ZT-TX plates, have the right to pick up passengers," they state from the Municipality of Zeta.
Convenient to Podgorica
"Vijesti" reporters also noticed violations of passenger reception measures at the nearby "Aerodrom" train station in Zeta.
"I drive cheaply to Podgorica, would you like me to drop you two off with a beer to the city center for only three euros?" Ladies, I can take you for five euros each, I'm one of the cheaper ones, you won't find better than me", said the driver of a taxi from Podgorica who was "luring" wet tourists at that station.
Many did not pay attention to the taxi driver who, with each new sentence, increased the price of transportation to Podgorica. Due to the overall situation at the "Airport", as the "Vijesti" team was convinced, the offer of the aggressive taxi driver looked like a "premium" to some tourists.
Wild taxi drivers and passengers who were offered these services were not in the mood to speak to "Vijesti"
A maximum of 50 taxi drivers can work on the territory of the Municipality of Zeta
According to the decision on auto-taxi transport in the Municipality of Zeta, which was approved in November last year, it was stated that the optimal number of taxi vehicles for the territory of this municipality is 50, which also represents the maximum number of valid license extracts.
"Except from paragraph 1 of this article, the competent authority can issue 5 license extracts over the maximum number for electric vehicles. A taxi operator that carries out auto-taxi transport with 15 and over is obliged to equip at least one vehicle from the total number of vehicles it transports with a platform for easy entry and exit of persons with disabilities, as well as equipment for the safe transport of these persons. Vehicles from paragraph 3 of this article are not counted in the optimal number quota from paragraph 1 of this article," the Decision reads.
"Vijesti" is waiting for additional clarification from the Municipality of Zeta as to how many licenses they have issued and whether this number of 50 vehicles is sufficient to meet all the needs of tourists and other citizens in this Municipality.
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