Uber announces #SwitchToPool campaign in Delhi NCR

On-demand ride-sharing company Uber has announced the roll out of 'POOL Thursdays' as a part of its #SwitchToPool campaign, which aims to accelerate Uber's efforts to offer carpooling and ride-sharing as credible solutions to the growing menace of rising pollution levels and congestion in the city.

In a landmark move, this pool Thursday, Uber will encourage more riders to use Pool by making that the default option on the app for select riders, during rush hour. This is its boldest bid ever to encourage riders to pool and be a part of the solution.

"Congestion is more than just an annoyance; it's a drain on our cities, our economies, our health, and our planet. Across India, traffic congestion leads to an estimated loss of Rs. 60,000 crore per year, including fuel wastage. Currently, on an average we have just one person in a car at any given point, with the average asset utilization rate as low as five percent. This clearly indicates a strong need and opportunity to put 'more people in fewer cars," said General Manager Delhi and NCR Uber India, Prabhjeet Singh.

"We believe that tackling pollution levels and congestion requires concerted action and collaborative partnerships. Our experience across cities in India and globally shows that alternate methods of commute, carpooling and ride-sharing have made a tangible difference. As a responsible corporate citizen, we want to be a part of the solution and we are confident that the citizens will get an opportunity to partner with Uber, and make the future of their cities better," he added.

UberPOOL has been one of the most innovative offerings of Uber, enabling people going the same way at the same time to share their journey, by bringing carpooling at the tap of a button. In Delhi NCR itself, since the launch of UberPool, over 31 percent trips of Uber trips were pool, resulting in a saving more than 12 million kilometres being driven on the roads, that's 31 trips to the moon.

As a part of 'POOL Thursdays', Uber will also be announcing a slew of interesting promotional offers in the coming days to raise awareness amongst citizens and encourage them to pool their rides.