Whereas the standoff between autorickshaw drivers and cab aggregators in Bengaluru is much from over, the auto drivers union’s very personal Namma Yatri app has created a flutter amongst commuters.
The app was launched on November 1, on the event of Kannada Rajyotsava, and has recorded over 50,000 downloads to date. The app, at present within the beta stage, has two variations—one for drivers and the opposite for passengers.
Some passengers nonetheless really feel the app lacks “credibility” and plenty of netizens have flagged technical issues like location inaccuracy in addition to pricing points that should be addressed.
In keeping with Rudramurthy, normal secretary of Auto Rickshaw Driver’s Union, Bengaluru, the app additionally presents metro-to-home companies, solely with a restricted radius of 2km, with a flat fare of Rs 40. The app fees Rs 30 for the primary 2km and Rs 15 for subsequent kilometres, as per the federal government guidelines, in addition to a pickup price of Rs 10.
The app has been designed below the Open Community for Digital Commerce mannequin developed by the Division for Promotion of Trade and Inside Commerce of the central authorities. The answer for the app was offered by Beckn Basis, which is supported by the non-profit Basis for Interoperability in Digital Financial system, co-founded by Nanand Nilekani. The autorickshaw drivers are actually in a three-month settlement with Juspay Applied sciences, engaged by the union to develop the app as per its customisation necessities.
Yogesh, a driver registered with the app, mentioned, “The app nonetheless wants enchancment in location accuracy. This has been an issue for the previous few days and we now have raised it with the union. Nonetheless, general the app is certainly a boon for auto drivers, who till now had been exploited by ride-hailing apps. Right here we even have an possibility to barter the value relying on the situation. I’m very optimistic in regards to the app and its companies in the long term. We ask for an additional Rs 10 or Rs 20 to cowl the gasoline fees.”
Rudramurthy mentioned, “The intention of the app is to offer livelihood for auto drivers and passenger security with honest pricing and with none middlemen. The earnings will immediately go to the driving force himself and he has the choice to barter for extra. We’re spreading consciousness among the many auto drivers to change to the app for higher earnings. Furthermore, we don’t welcome the transfer to permit the federal government to launch an auto aggregator app as a result of the federal government doesn’t have the technical experience and infrastructure to take care of it, issues that might later render the service ineffective.”
Autorickshaw drivers say quite a lot of bookings are coming from areas like Koramangala, Mathikere, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and locations the place schools are located.
Varadaraju, one other driver, mentioned, “We’re receiving 4-5 bookings a day by the app, however we nonetheless want extra numbers. Nonetheless, passengers have advised me that they’re saving at the very least Rs 30-Rs40 on a visit in comparison with Ola/Uber. The fee on such ride-hailing companies is excessive and the Namma Yatri app fees no such fee. All of the earnings goes to the driving force, which may be very useful. I’m blissful that we’re seeing some hope for reviving the auto enterprise now.”
Anoushka Roy, a working skilled, mentioned, “I nonetheless doubt the credibility of such apps as a result of they nonetheless would not have the mechanism to deal with passenger points. Additionally I don’t see many pals in my circle utilizing the app. I’d nonetheless want an Ola or a Rapido to ebook my rides. It’s going to take a while for me to belief the Namma Yatri app.”
Anunaya Hebbar, a Twitter consumer, mentioned, “Due to Namma Yatri App in Bengaluru auto drivers usually are not accepting Ola, Uber and Rapido. We now have to both pay a hefty quantity and go in a cab or select a motorcycle.”
In the meantime, Uber has additionally determined to restrict its companies after the fee was capped at 10 per cent following the ban on autorickshaw companies operated by ride-hailing apps. In a current weblog publish, the corporate wrote that “at present, our fee in Bengaluru is capped at 10 per cent of the fare collected. This isn’t financially sustainable. If our prices can’t be coated by commissions, we should discover methods to dump prices that might affect the expertise of drivers and riders. Within the face of those fee caps, we might should make the troublesome resolution to restrict Uber Auto to pick elements of Bengaluru the place the service is viable”.
The transfer got here after the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom positioned a ten per cent cap on commissions, unique of Items and Providers Tax, on October 14 as an interim association till the state’s transport division and app-based ride-hailing corporations give you a pricing mechanism.