Cabzo: For Mumbai's black and yellow cabs

Cabzo has a fleet of around 300 cabs and is looking to expand quickly

If you are a Mumbaikar, you are no stranger to cab drivers turning you down, especially for shorter rides. This is what Mumbai-based app Cabzo is trying to change.

The app, available on Google Play Store and Apple's App Store, offers signature black and yellow cabs as well as Cool Cabs.

The user interface is quite simple: Just enter the location details and Cabzo will give you a list of available drivers in two minutes. You can then select the driver and taxi based on driver user ratings, the estimated time of arrival and car model. In some cases, the photo of the driver is also available.

We weren't always successful in finding drivers but in those cases the customer care was quick to call and offer to find us one.

Cabzo has an active fleet of about 300 cabs but is looking to expand quickly. Co-founder Tarun Kodnani says the service is present in Dadar, Vadala, Prabhadevi, south Mumbai and Thane.

The app also allows you to book a cab in advance using the "Travel Later" option. In this case, Cabzo will send you a message with the driver's details.

Besides, there is no minimum distance criterion. So, you can use it to book a cab from, say, Doordarshan in Worli to High Street Phoenix. At the end of the trip, you pay cash just like you normally do. 

Once you have booked the cab, you can call the driver for any changes or track the whereabouts of the driver using the "Locate Driver" option.  

With app-based cab providers coming under scrutiny after the alleged Uber rape case, safety features have been increased by most companies. Cabzo says it engages with only Regional Transport Office-compliant taxis and cab drivers. 

During the ride, the app provides a help button that sends location details to your registered emergency contact as an SMS. It also alerts the Cabzo team, who then get in touch with the police. Cabzo is currently working on a system where the app directly contacts the police to reduce the reaction time, says Kodnani. At the end of the ride, the app asks you to rate the driver to assist other users. Overall, Cabzo offers a convenient way to book local cabs, without the hassle of flagging one down or waiting endlessly for one.