Page 2 - Taxi Apps

Uber partners with GeM portal for taxies to govt offices at fixed price

Soon personnel from the government ministries, departments, agencies and public sector units will be able to book taxis for official purposes from cab aggregator Uber as the company has partnered with public procurement portal GeM to provide the service. "It will be a kind of corporate service. At present, we have started the service on a pilot basis and gradually it will be available for all the government ministers, departments, agencies and public sector units (PSUs). We are planning to go phase by phase," an official said. The company would provide the service at a fixed price with zero cancellation charges and no surge pricing. The company has registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM), which was launched in 2016 by the commerce ministry for buying goods and services by central ministries and departments with a view to bringing transparency in government procurement. There is a growing demand for taxi services in the government and all the departments spend hug

Uber expands pre-booking 'Reserve' option to 6 more cities in India

Ride-hailing app Uber on Wednesday announced the expansion of 'Reserve' facility across six more cities in India, giving riders an option to pre-book their rides 30 minutes to 90 days ahead of their travel. Uber Reserve will now be available for cash payments offering riders access to pre-booked rides, it said in a statement. The six new cities added are Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati. "Reserve now appears as a new option in the latest version of the Uber app and is available on Uber Premier, Uber Intercity, Uber Rentals and Uber XL," an Uber release said. With this, the service is now live across 13 cities -- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati -- in India. The new product is developed keeping in mind pre-planned travel needs, including work trips, airport drops, visits to the doctor, and other scheduled appointments, according to Uber. "With Reserve, riders can ..

App-based taxi services will be available in Goa soon: CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said his government was firm on introducing app-based cab services in the coastal state. "I want to give you an assurance that in a few days app-based taxis will be available," Sawant told reporters in Chandigarh. Two months ago, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had said the state government was firm on introducing app-based cab services and would not bow down to pressure from the private taxi lobby which was against it. Private taxi operators have been opposing app-based cab services, claiming it will destabilise their business. On private taxi operators opposing app-based cab services, Sawant said, "In a few days the taxi issue will be resolved and you will get app-based taxi in Goa." Responding to a question on Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat's mysterious death in Goa last month, Sawant said, "On demand of her family, we have handed over the investigation to the CBI." "Any assistance which CBI may require from the Goa Police

Uber to allow riders see ratings they receive from drivers

In a first, ride-hailing major Uber on Wednesday said the riders can now see how many five-star ratings -- including the shameful one-star reviews -- they've racked up from drivers.

Ola, Uber rides to get cheaper? Govt's new guidelines for app taxi firms

In this podcast we will talk about new regulations for cab aggregators, penalties in case of violation among other things

India test bed for key innovations: Uber India's Pradeep Parameswaran

Parameswaran talks to Surajeet Das Gupta about the challenges he faced and India's R&D capability.

Ola commits Rs 500 cr to enable safe mobility for citizens, driver-partners

As a large number of major cities saw operations resuming on the Ola app in the last week, Ola has set up a network of over 500 fumigation centres across the country at various hotspots and airports

Ola to lay off 1,400 employees as revenue dips 95% in coronavirus

In an email to employees, Aggarwal made it clear that the prognosis ahead for the business is 'very unclear'

Uber announces safety measures as road travel set to resume across country

"Go Online Checklist" and mandatory mask policy, selfie verification among protocols to be followed by drivers and riders; non-compliance could see both geting barred

As incentives and income fall, app-based cab drivers strike their own deals

According to consulting firm Redsheer, the drivers incentives i.e. percentage of gross booking value has fallen from 60 per cent in 2015 to just about 8 per cent in 2018

A slew of alternative ride services to make sure you get to office on time

Start-ups like Quick Ride, GetToWork and Bounce are coming out with innovative solutions to provide office-goers with cost effective alternatives

Taxi hailing drivers get political pushers

As drivers attached to app-based taxi hailing platforms Uber and Ola resumed their protests, political parties have become interested in backing their demands as they eye gaining support from this significant vote bank.The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Wednesday officially announced that it was extending support to the agitating drivers. Protesting against falling earnings and lack of business due to an oversupply of cars, DPCC President Ajay Maken said that the drivers should create their own app to compete against Uber and Ola."The Congress Party stands firmly behind the agitating drivers and asked them to explore setting up their own management to operate a 'Made in India' and 'Operate in India' platform," a Congress Party statement quoted Ajay Maken as saying. "Why should we let the fruits of our hard work be enjoyed by foreign companies?"In Bengaluru, HD Deve Gowda's Janata Party (Secular) has aligned itself with the protesting drivers. The agitations in the city ...

Taxi apps Uber, Ola are useful for short distances

If you travel up to 25 km daily, it makes sense to use app-based taxi services. If over 75 km, owning a vehicle is cheaper