Singapore's ComfortDelgro to raise taxi flagdown fare by 12 pct

SINGAPORE, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Singapore's ComfortDelGro (CMDG.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's second-largest land transport firm by fleet size, will soon raise fares for taxis in the city-state, with other operators such as SMRT (SMRT.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) likely to follow suit pressured by rising fuel costs and taxes.

A spokesman for the Public Transport Council, which regulates public transport fares in Singapore, told Reuters that it has received a notification letter from ComfortDelgro, but did not give further details citing confidentiality.

Taxi operators in Singapore are required to notify the council at least two weeks before a hike.

Fares are likely to go up by as much as 12 percent to S$2.80 ($1.94) for the minimum flag down charge, local media reported, citing unnamed sources.

ComfortDelgro spokeswoman declined to comment, saying, "We do not speak about fare increases."

ComfortDelgro, which is has the largest fleet of taxis in Singapore with 15,000 vehicles, while rival SMRT is number two with 3,000 taxis.

(Reporting by Daryl Loo)