New cab service in Kolkata

After a five-week trial in Kolkata, Mumbai-based cab service provider Bookmycab.com introduced its fleet of taxis in the city today. Starting with a fleet of 50 AC and non-AC non-metered taxis, Bookmycab.com will allow people book through its website or phone or use an app on smartphone, company founder and CEO Avinash Gupta said at the launch of the cab service here today.

"After Mumbai we have found Kolkata is the second big market. We are starting our services with 50 commercial cars here today," he said. Passengers would be charged a fare of Rs 15 per km for point-to-point while travelling in non-AC cars and a minimum fare of Rs 160 for the first eight km journey, Gupta said, adding that passengers also have to pay Rs 10 'for big baggages'. Bookmycab would charge Rs 20 per km for AC cars within the city and a minimum fare of Rs 200 for the first eight km.

For a trip to and from the airport, railway stations and suburban areas one would have to pay fixed rates, starting from Rs 200 and passengers have to pay 20 per cent above regular fare as night surcharge during journey taken between 10.30 pm to 4.30 am, Gupta said. On the company's business plans in the city, Gupta said it was aiming to add at least 500 cars in its fleet by this year end.

Bookmycab's non-AC fleet for the city included Ambassador and Tata Indica and for the AC service it has Maruti Swift Dzire, Tata Indigo, Indica and Manza, and Toyota Etios, Gupta said.