NCS has since implemented additional checks and established a buddy system with a senior developer who will review the work done, said Dr Khor.
The authorities had initially intended to announce the changes in March while laying out the transport ministry’s spending plans for the year, she noted.
But a decision was made to push forward the announcement.
“This was because there was an ongoing COE bidding exercise from Feb 17 to Feb 19, and we wanted to ensure fairness and transparency to all parties and allow bidders sufficient time to decide whether to adjust their bids before the bidding cycle closed at 4pm on Feb 19,” Dr Khor said.
Under the new regulation, businesses must now keep their private-hire cars designated for ride-hailing services for three years before they can be converted or transferred to individuals.
This ensures that businesses who acquire such private-hire cars do so predominantly to lease them to drivers who provide ride-hail services, LTA said on Feb 19.
It also prevents the premature conversion of such vehicles out of the chauffeured private-hire car scheme, which will affect the supply of vehicles available for point-to-point services.
The mandatory three-year lock-in period applies to all newly registered or converted chauffeured private-hire cars that are owned by businesses, and all such vehicles that are transferred from individuals to businesses.
The transport ministry will provide more details about the review of the point-to-point transport sector during the debate on its spending plans in March.
