Starting May 1, Shanghai's taxi industry will take a series of measures to upgrade its services, including building more taxi stations, implementing advanced technology and instituting a dress code for drivers.

Hailing stations, which are designated places where passengers can embark and disembark, will be increased to 1,000 by the end of the year.

The city will also build 80 taxi business and waiting stations by the end of May, and raise the total number to 150 by the end of the year. Taxi business stations offer taxi services in large gathering places, hotels and residential quarters. Waiting stations provide convenient service to dispatching centers and nearby taxi hailers.

The move aims to ease difficulties for taxi drivers, lower non-occupancy rates and improve local transportation, said an industry analyst.

The Shanghai taxi industry is also planning to implement a series of advanced technologies on a trial basis, starting in the second half of the year.

The plan calls for advanced communications, computer and network technologies to build a highly-efficient information service center and dispatching network, the analyst said.

Starting May 1, all the city's taxi drivers are required to wear a blue suit, blue tie, white shirt and white gloves in a bid to enhance service quality.