Operation Thulamsindo, the government's ambitious initiative to manage conflict and end violence in the minibus taxi industry, looks like a brilliant idea on paper.

Operation Thulamsindo, the government's ambitious initiative to manage conflict and end violence in the minibus taxi industry, looks like a brilliant idea on paper.

It involves dedicating a police team to investigate violence and regulate patrolling and managing taxi ranks.

The idea of providing queue marshals, private taxi patrol squads and rank managers with customer care and life skills is long overdue.

People forced to endure abuse at the hands of the average taximan can attest to the dire need for such skills.

It is about time taxi operators started treating their customers with respect, not as hapless cash cows who have no option but to risk their lives using taxis.

But we should not fool ourselves that the clean-up will happen overnight.