Taxi calling services was launched in 2004 and witnesses a rapid growth in recent years. (Information Times)

A poll form on charging 2 to 5 yuan for taxi calling service was released online by Guangzhou's communication authority recently, which has been stirring up heated discussion and concern in the city.

Taxi calling services was launched in 2004 and witnesses a rapid growth in recent years, with over 2, 000 calls a day averagely.

Only about half of the calls, however, can lead to the expected taxi service, said the hotline staff.

Most of the callers leave when the called taxi arrives. Many taxi drivers are reluctant to answer the call for service nowadays. The rising cost of vacant taxis' drive and call center operation has hobbled taxi calling's development.

Now the local authority is soliciting public opinions on the service charge for 2 to 5 yuan per time. This kind of charge has already been carried out in some places like Shanghai and Singapore.

The poll will last till the end of 2008 and the result is expected to come out next year.