As Uber, Ola continue tussle with state govts, cabbies try different route

Ride-hailing giants Ola and Uber are challenging order by States to ban autorickshaw rides through companies' apps; in the meanwhile alternative government-backed taxi/auto aggregators are coming up

At a time when the business of commuters booking autorickshaws and cabs via apps is under a cloud due to the tussle between players such as Uber and Ola with state governments, alternative government-backed taxi/auto aggregator services are coming to the fore.

In August earlier this year, the Kerala government flagged off one of India’s first online taxi aggregator services owned by a state government. The project, named 'Kerala Savaari', is an Uber/Ola-like application that promises passengers safe and convenient rides with much more reasonable remunerations for taxi and auto drivers.

The first phase of the project was implemented