Final preparations are underway in Tokyo for the roll-out of ride-hailing services this month.

The new service will allow ordinary drivers to offer rides and charge fares under the supervision of taxi companies. It is expected to begin on April 8 in parts of the Japanese capital where cab drivers are in short supply.

A taxi firm invited the media on Friday to explain how operations will be carried out.

This company says it will accept customers only through a taxi booking app, because destinations and fares must be set in advance under the new system. The app features a new option of "private vehicle taxis."

The taxi firm also showed how it will run drivers' health checks by talking to them remotely through video phones. Results of breathalyzer tests can also be automatically sent to the firm from the private vehicles.

An official of the taxi firm, Royal Limousine, said ride-hailing offers a new mode of transport and the company hopes to make it successful by placing importance on the basic safety rules.

The transport ministry's regional branch says that as of Thursday, 47 offices of taxi companies in Tokyo had applied to operate ride-hailing services.