WARNING TO PMV AND TAXI OPERATORS NOT TO INCREASE FARES AND NOT TO SHORT-SERVE ROUTES
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (‘ICCC’) commends the Road Traffic Authority (RTA) and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (Police) for the coordinated effort to remove all unroadworthy Public Motor Vehicles (PMV) and taxis within the National Capital District (NCD) and surrounding Central Province. While this initiative has temporarily reduced the number of available PMVs and taxis, this represents a necessary and long-overdue measure to safe guard public safety and improve the quality of public land transport services in the Nation’s Capital.
This enforcement action also promotes competition within the PMV and taxi market by ensuring that only compliant operators who have incurred necessary costs of meeting regulatory and safety standards are permitted to operate, thereby preventing unfair competition from non-compliant operators who evade such obligations.
In light of this, all licensed PMV and taxi owners and operators currently providing services must strictly comply with the maximum approved fares, as published by the ICCC in National Gazette No. G21 of 9th January 2026. The ICCC has already factored in the full costs of compliance with safety and other statutory requirements when setting the fares.
Accordingly, the operators are strongly cautioned against exploiting the current shortage of public transport by increasing fares above the approved limits or by failing to complete their designated licensed routes.
The Police and RTA are currently undertaking random inspections at designated bus stops and on the major roads. Any operator found to be in breach of any rules and regulations administered by the RTA, Police, and the ICCC, will be heavily penalised.
The ICCC reiterates that any operator found to be charging above the approved fares is unlawful and may be prosecuted under the Prices Regulation (Amendment) Act 2025 (‘PR Act’). Offenders may be prosecuted and, upon conviction, face maximum monetary penalties of up to K10,000 for summary offences and up to K30,000 for indictable offences.
The ICCC further urges all commuters to be aware of the approved fares and report any instances of overcharging or failure by operators to complete their licensed routes to the ICCC, Police, and/or RTA.
Any enquiries in relation to above should be forwarded to the ICCC on telephone number 312 4600 or on email infor@iccc.gov.pg.