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<ul><li>In an interview with Business Insider, Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO, <keyword id="3009822" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shuttl">Shuttl</keyword>, said the company is not competing with <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> and <keyword id="6354720" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola">Ola</keyword> and instead complements them. </li><li>Shuttl has taken a public transport provider – bus – and offered it as a private transport service.</li></ul>India’s transportation industry has seen the rise of homegrown <keyword id="6362513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups">startups</keyword> like Ola and the entry of global bigwigs like Uber. When bus aggregator and mobility app Shuttl came in 2015, it operated in the grey area between public and private transport. So, Shuttl competes in a market that already has public transportation like the metro along with convenience factors like Uber and Ola. Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO, Shuttl, believes they built a category that didn’t exist. “Small changes make the product very different. They are on-demand companies, we are a planned ride share company – with slots, routes and subscriptions,” he said. Singh explains that the difference between transportation and mobility is that mobility is a bottoms-up approach. “We care about where our consumer is, where he/she wants to go and build routes accordingly. Everything is consumer focused. Even when you are doing a traffic study for the metro, you need to be very confident about what the demand would be 5 years down the line as well. If you don’t get it right, viability goes for a toss,” he said. In fact, this was one of the challenges Singh faced when they began working on Shuttl. While buses have been operational in India for ages, they had not really been integrated with technology. This meant that Singh had no proof-of-concept whether the startup would actually take off.

Here’s why Shuttl is not in a competition with Uber and Ola

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Wednesday, NBC Milwaukee affiliate <a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/pregnant-mother-saves-students-from-burning-school-bus-in-milwaukee">TMJ4 News</a> published footage showing a school bus in flames.</li><li>Imunek Williams told TMJ4 News she was the driver and sprang into action when she saw smoke.</li></ul>A fire broke out on a school bus carrying more than 30 students in Milwaukee this week, prompting the driver to spring into action to save everyone on board, NBC affiliate <a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/pregnant-mother-saves-students-from-burning-school-bus-in-milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TMJ4 News</a> reported.The local outlet published footage showing the school bus in flames on Wednesday. The incident happened at approximately 7:50 a.m. near 18th Street and West Highland Avenue, according to <a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/school-bus-catches-fire-in-milwaukee-no-injuries-reported">TMJ4 News' Julia Marshall</a>.Imunek Williams later told TMJ4 News' Mary Jo Ola that she was the driver of the vehicle, which was headed to the Milwaukee Academy of Science.Williams, who is eight months pregnant, told the outlet the bus was blocks away from the school when she noticed a strange smell and smoke.She told TMJ4 News that she initially attempted to call dispatch through her radio, but smoke was hitting her in the face and eyes making it difficult for her to talk."I couldn't barely get what I was trying to say out because of the smoke," she said.Instead, Williams said she left the radio and decided she needed to get the kids off the bus, according to TMJ4 News."I think that's when it was like my mommy instincts kicked in really fast and I was just like, 'OK, come on, mom, let's do it, let's get off the bus," she told TMJ4 News.Williams told the outlet she felt like it was her "job to stay calm" in the moment, and that she double-checked the vehicle after evacuating the students to ensure everyone was out."I was the last person off," she said of the bus, adding that when she turned around she saw flames. "I wanted to make sure that I was safe, baby was safe, and you know if it was my kid on the bus I would've wanted one of the bus drivers to act the same way that I did," she said.The NBC affiliate reported that Williams was taken to the hospital as a precaution after inhaling smoke but was "doing fine." No one else was reported injured, according to the outlet.Milwaukee Police was investigating the incident, which did not seem suspicious at the time, TMJ4 reported Wednesday.On Thursday, it was business as usual, as Williams told TMJ4 News she and the students could "come to school and come to work the next day.""Everyone's okay so that just makes me happy," she told the outlet.Milwaukee Police Department did not immediately answer Insider's call for comment. Williams did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

8-month pregnant driver who saved students from a burning school bus said her 'mommy instincts kicked in really fast'

Ride-hailing platform <keyword id="6354720" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola">Ola</keyword> on Thursday said it has appointed Mike <keyword id="6585757" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="rake">Rake</keyword> as non-executive Chairman and <keyword id="11292176" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="leon-daniels">Leon Daniels</keyword> as an independent non-executive director to the Ola UK Board. Rake and Daniels will draw on deep experience across the private and public sectors to provide the strongest possible oversight, corporate governance, and strategic counsel to Ola as it continues to grow and scale, Ola said in a statement. They will join Balasubrahmanyam Vijay Juturi, alongside Marc Rozendal (<keyword id="24973" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="managing-director">Managing Director</keyword>, Ola UK) and Karl Lutzow (Operations Director, Ola UK) on the board, it added. "We are delighted to welcome Sir Mike and Leon to the Ola UK Board. As a scaled, global business with a major presence in the UK, the appointment of such high-quality independent board members underlines our commitment to the UK and the scale of our ambition in this dynamic market," Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman and Group CEO at Ola, said. Ola had launched operations in the UK in 2018. Currently, Ola operates across 27 local authorities, including Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol. It has also expanded its offering for UK riders, including the launch of <keyword id="3202683" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola-Corporate">Ola Corporate</keyword>. Sir Mike Rake is one of the UK's leading business figures. He joins Ola having previously served in a range of senior boardroom roles, including as Chairman of Worldpay Group plc (2015-2018), BT Group plc (2007-2017), EasyJet plc (2010-2013) and International Chairman of <keyword id="50041" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="KPMG">KPMG</keyword> (2002-2007), along with serving as President of the <keyword id="50463" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Confederation-of-British-Industry">Confederation of British Industry</keyword> (2013-2015). "The application of technology to mobility holds out an exciting future of cleaner, safer and more efficient transportation for millions of UK passengers, and I look forward to helping Ola continue to do what they do best - innovate for the benefit of society," Rake said. Leon Daniels served as Managing Director, Surface Transport at Transport for London until 2017 and previously held the position of Commercial Director at UK Bus, overseeing new ventures in the UK and international transport. In 2019, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Transport in recognition of his expertise and experience across the UK, Europe, and Asia. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/cryptocurrency-crash-brings-down-binance-wazirx-and-other-exchanges-users-fume-as-orders-fail/articleshow/82793305.cms">Cryptocurrency crash brings down Binance, WazirX and other exchanges – users fume as orders fail</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/a-cup-of-regular-tea-has-never-been-this-expensive-in-india-thanks-to-kooky-weather/articleshow/82792489.cms">A cup of regular tea has never been this expensive in India, thanks to kooky weather</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/the-first-seat-on-jeff-bezos-rocket-to-space-is-selling-for-a-record-high-of-2-8-million/articleshow/82791575.cms">The first seat on Jeff Bezos’ rocket to space is selling for a record high of $2.8 million</a>

Ola appoints Mike Rake as non-executive chairman and Leon Daniels as non-executive director to the UK board

After taxi and auto services, Ola is now preparing to start shuttle bus services and is aggregating tourist and chartered buses for the same. 
 
In a bid to emerge as a complete urban transport solution provider, Ola is expected to launch the bus service in next two months. Like other services, Ola Bus will also be integrated in the same app from which people choose between autos and cabs. 
 
Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and CEO of Ola, in a statement, said Ola is focussed on building mobility for a billion people. 
 
A senior company executive told Economic Times that Ola will not own any of the buses and use tourist and chartered busses to aggregate supply. 
Reportedly, Ola’s estimated worth is around Rs 15,700 crore, or $2.5 billion. 
 
"Passengers will be able to make bookings by entering the desired destination and time preference; the app will then indicate the closest bus with available seating,” the senior executive told ET. 
 
Sundeep Sahni, a vice-president for new initiatives, would rollout the bus services. 
 
As per the experts, Ola's bus service will expand its user base and boost revenue. 
 
Founded by IIT-Bombay graduates Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, the five-year-old startup is estimated to clock a revenue run rate of around $450-500 million, and is aiming for gross revenue of $1 billion by the end of 2015. 
 
"They started with taxis and moved to autos. The company wants to establish itself as a transport technology platform rather than be dependent on one mode," Jaspal Singh, cofounder of Valoriser Consultants, a market research firm for transport companies told the financial daily. 
 
As per reports, nearly 1.5 lakh buses transport around 70 million people every day and 23 million people travel by train. 
 
Apart from venturing into several new categories, including food and grocery delivery, Ola is presently working on carpooling, ecommerce on-demand deliveries and logistics. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

You may soon be hopping on to an Ola-bus!

In a bid to control the alarming levels of Delhi’s air pollution, CM <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> has planned to allow private vehicles with even and odd registration numbers on alternate days from January 1 next year. This step, however odd it may sound, can get really beneficial for bus aggregation startups like <keyword id="3009822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shuttl">Shuttl</keyword> and <keyword id="3009942" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ZipGo">ZipGo</keyword>, who can jump on the opportunity to offer their services to more people now. 
 
Shuttl, which is the largest bus aggregation players in the Delhi-NCR has around 500 vehicles on its network. ZipGo too has entered the Delhi market, and has plans to launch women-only buses. 
 
3 million people already use metro every day to commute, while for buses this number is 5 million. With 50% of Delhi’s private vehicles taken off road, the public transport needs to be made more efficient. 
 Mumbai-based venture <keyword id="3009821" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="rBus">rBus</keyword> is also evaluating a Delhi launch after the announcement, even as Kejriwal later confirmed that this step would be more of an experiment for the first two weeks of January, and results would determine the final step. 
 Big players like Ola and Uber would wait for the results before bouncing on the opportunity. "Delhi being one of our major cities and headquarter, we will be looking to bring <keyword id="6591085" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="UberPool">UberPool</keyword> there very soon," an Uber spokesperson told ET. 
 
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shuttlapp/?fref=ts">Image source</a>

Kejriwal's odd-even rule to benefit bus aggregation startups

At a time when <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <keyword id="6357120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="PayTM">Paytm</keyword> are going the extra mile to grab India’s $5 billion bus <keyword id="6354692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> market, the country’s largest online bus ticketing agency <keyword id="6359128" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Redbus">RedBus</keyword> is not far behind. The Ibibo-owned enterprise is looking to launch into newer categories and markets to expand its physical footprint. 
 
The company is looking to expand into hotel and taxi bookings soon. It is also looking to tap into international markets. RedBus currently offers around 80,000 routes in India with over 1,500 bus operators and reportedly owns 70% of the total market share in online bus ticketing. 
 
“If we find an interesting opportunity in overseas startups, we would look at acquisition. In a market as fragmented as bus travel, if one could have real time updates and online reservation of seats, it adds value to the experience”, Prakash Sangam, CEO, RedBus confirmed. 
 
Sangam insists that a bus traveler has very distinct needs for hotels that include free early check-in and proximity to bus stops that give them the edge. 
 
“We know the dropping points across cities, and can promote hotels in the vicinity”, he adds. 
 
Sangam observes the segment has evolved from the white collar market with IT professionals from Southern metropolitans like Bangalore travelling to and from home-towns in AP and Tamil Nadu to more diverse user-bases. 
 
 “As the internet is being widely adopted by the country, the target market has increasingly shifted from the luxury Volvo buses to non-AC ones that cater to students, small-time businessmen and salesmen”, he says, “While the market is still dominated by the metros, around 70% of our sales are from routes connecting the metros or the ones connecting metros to Tier II cities”, he adds. 
 
Mobile continues to be the platform of choice for new bookings with mobile bookings growing at a whopping 300% while desktop lags behind at a mere 30%. 
 
When asked about the stiff competition in an increasingly crowded market, Sangam dismisses the possibility there’s any match for them when it comes to bus ticketing, “We sell 20 times the tickets that a MakeMyTrip and a Yatra will sell combined. That debate has been settled. It has been clear in people’s minds that when have to do bus ticketing they’ll hire RedBus”, he asserts. 
 
(Image credit: Google Play)

RedBus is silently devising plans to become the
market-leader in a space being eyed by Ola and Paytm

<ul><li>Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi launched public transport feature in <keyword id="66" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>. </li><li>The feature was launched in partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). </li><li>It allows one to check schedules for the Delhi Metro, based on pricing as well as timing. </li></ul>Uber launched its public transport feature in New Delhi today. With this, India's national capital becomes the ninth city in the world and the first in Asia, to get the feature. Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi launched the feature in partnership with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The feature allows one to check schedules for the Delhi Metro, based on pricing as well as timing. "In our first five cities in the world, half a million users have been using the public transport system in Uber app," said Khosrowshahi at a press conference in Delhi. "DMRC is embracing technology and we want to commend them for that. India is a huge opportunity to make sure its cities are built for people and not for cars," he said. In the near future, Uber also aims to have dedicated pick up spots at metro stations, charging stations for Electric Vehicles, vehicles for physically disabled, self driving cars and bikes and more. India is a fundamental part of Uber's growth story. Profitability characteristics and business in India are improving. India's market is a gateway for the rest of the developing world, said the Uber CEO. There were also mentions of its latest product--Uber bus. "Uber bus service is a new product that we have launched <keyword id="6526136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="18-months">18 months</keyword> ago. We are testing and learning to understand how the service works. As the product matures, it will be specifically marketed for cities like Delhi," said Khosrowshahi. Partnering with Delhi Metro, Uber hopes to offer seamless travel to users. In <keyword id="6361586" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gurgaon">Gurgaon</keyword>, Uber Moto sees 25% of its trips starting from metro stations. "We have discussed that 210 metro stations in Delhi, where Uber will have a designated pick up spots. Inside the stations too, Uber will place information desks and booking facilities," said Dr Mangu Singh, Managing Director of DMRC. Sometimes car ownership is a trap that prevents innovation, says Uber CEO Micro mobility is an exciting space for Uber, informed Pradeep Parmeswaran, the company's India head. Khosrowshahi also spoke about <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>’s latest comment on car sales being affected by the likes of Uber and Ola. “One of the enemies of innovation is established businesses. We are moving from a world of ownership to a world of services. The dream is now to have freedom. Sometimes car ownership is a trap that prevents innovation. India doesn't need to be trapped by these established models, India can be a trailblazer for other established countries,” he said. The Uber CEO also has big expectations from India. He said, “India is going to be a big source of innovation. One example is the Uber Lite app, was designed and built in India and moved to over 30 countries around the world.” Uber is also set to hire more in India. “We are very proud of the engineering and product talent based out of Bengaluru and <keyword id="6354552" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyderabad">Hyderabad</keyword>. We have a goal to double the headcount in these offices and have 1,000 people to build innovative products out of India,” said Manik Gupta, Uber's chief product officer.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi launches its public transport feature in Delhi, its first for Asia

<ul><li>Paid carpooling and ridesharing may be banned in Delhi by the committee in charge of reviewing the regulations of app-based cab operators. </li><li>Under the City Taxi Scheme 2017, permits only allow cab operators to pick up passengers from point A to point B, without any intermediary stops.</li><li>Considering Delhi’s parking, congestion and air quality problems, the fall out of such a ruling remains uncertain. </li></ul>The five-member committee currently reviewing the regulation of app-based cab operators like Uber and Ola in <keyword id="6358777" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword> is <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/cab-pool-rides-likely-to-be-banned-in-delhi/articleshow/65976950.cms?utm_source=ETTopNews&amp;utm_medium=HP&amp;utm_campaign=TN&amp;utm_content=23&amp;from=mdr">unlikely to rule in favour of paid carpools</a>. With the national capital’s <keyword id="71724" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-congestion">traffic congestion</keyword> problems and air quality issues, the consequences of this move may have ample environmental fallouts. Under the City Taxi Scheme 2017, cabs are only allowed to pick up and drop passengers from one point to the next. Currently legal provisions only allow buses to pick up other passengers along the route and make multiple stops. After effects Customers are going bear the ultimate brunt if the verdict rules in favour of banning of ride-sharing. Even if individuals choose to pay more and opt for solo rides, the increased congestion on the road with more people using individual cars, will add to the time opportunity cost. The increasing number of cars on the road could also spell worsening air quality in New Delhi. <a href="http://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/">According</a> to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi has 292 micrograms per cubic meter of PM10 particles. That’s double the amount in Dakar, the second city on the list. The effect on the companies themselves is a different story. Recent reports <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/uber-ola-enter-slow-lane-in-2018/articleshow/65927443.cms">indicate</a> that while the absolute number of rides have been increasing, the companies are now growing at a slower rate. Experts believe that one of the reasons is the focus on ride-sharing. The ban could either be good for the companies if customers shift to solo rides. Or, bad if customers choose to shift to public transport altogether or find other alternative means of transportation. Other issues on the table In reviewing the regulations for cabs in the Indian national capital, the committee is also discussing the issue of green fuels and permits. Possible outcomes include enforcing that cabs only use fuels like CNG or LPG and providing proof of parking before applying for a permit. The biggest development to come is probably the tracking of cabs. Currently, cabs in the city aren’t monitored as they pick up and drop passengers. But the committee is considering adding GPS monitoring to the roster, not only for cabs in Delhi but for cabs that are registered in other states while operating within the city. For actual customers, the issues of greater relevance are the ‘panic’ button that will soon become a mandatory feature in cabs and putting a cap on the maximum fare that companies can charge from customers. If the scheme also goes through with its plan of limiting the number of cabs that can be put on call by a cab operator, the demand-supply disparity might even increase the overall prices in the market. The committee, that includes the transport minister Kailash Gahlot and Satyender Jain, a minister at the Public Works Department, is currently reviewing the City Taxi Scheme 2017, Licensing and Regulation of App-based Cab Aggregator Rules 2017 and app-based premium bus services. Sources have told Times of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> that this the committee is unlikely to rule in the favour of companies being allowed to operate ride-sharing in Delhi. They were originally supposed to come to a decision on Monday, but that has now be deferred to a date that is yet to be decided.

If Delhi has the worst air quality, why are paid carpool rides under the danger of getting banned?

<keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword>, which is India's largest mobility app, has started piloting Bike Taxis in Bengaluru after introducing bus services, thus strengthening its place in the mobility market. 
 
The bike taxis would run at an introductory fare of Rs 2/km and Re 1 per minute of trip time would be added to the bill. In a statement by Ola, the minimum fare is reported to be Rs 30. 
 
Pranay Jivrajka, Ola’s COO said, "We expect significant demand in the pilot phase and we will continue to scale this service up in the coming weeks to cover more areas in the city." 
 On the other hand, Ola’s prime rival <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> has also announced the experiment of offering Bike taxis in Bengaluru, but at a higher cost of Rs 3/km. The minimum fare in Uber bike taxi rides would be Rs 15. 
 
<a href="http://blog.olacabs.com/ola-bike-taxis-launched-in-bangalore/">Image source</a>

Ola hits at Uber with cheaper bike taxis in Bengaluru

Travelling within the city is a bane for all especially those who travel long distances for work. While women are increasing joining the workforce, their daily commute is still a tall task. While many companies provide women safe shuttle service between their homes and office, the majority is dependent on using either public transport or taxi services like <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> and <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> for their daily commute. While these services are convenient, they aren’t quite foolproof when it comes to safety as rape cases are reported even as cab operators claim to be more vigilant. From mob lynching to chain snatching, everyone who travels in public transport has to increasingly be careful on the road. 

 

 <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="59730039" title="Meet the Indian who&amp;#39;s fuelling Asia’s online video consumption" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="Jul 24, 2017, 2:00 PM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div> To hopefully make roads safer, <keyword id="3009822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shuttl">Shuttl</keyword>, which is India’s largest app-based bus service platform has introduced ‘Shuttl S.A.F.E.’ (Secure Anxiety Free Experience) - a project which provides multiple safety checks to every commuter through embedded technology features that also ensures responsible behavior by its bus drivers. An in-house creation by Shuttl’s technology team, <keyword id="4817841" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="shuttl-safe">Shuttl SAFE</keyword> is designed with Safety and Emergency tools for the commuter which will ensure safe travel within Delhi-NCR. The project provides the following Safety and Emergency tools for its commuters. <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="59684409" title="Cashback on Paytm will now directly get converted into an online Gold Investment" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="Jul 20, 2017, 6:24 PM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div>






 

BEFORE BOARDING SHUTTL SAFE <ul><li>Face-based check-in - a seamless, magical boarding experience, along with authentication to ensure safety for both driver and consumer. This feature provides details of ID, allowing only authorized drivers to operate thus bus and on the commuters side, it ensures that only validated, genuine commuters to board the bus</li> <li>Alcohol detector - The bus ignition is linked with a tech-based alcohol detection test which ensures zero incidence of drunk driving</li></ul> DURING THE RIDE <ul><li>SOS and Panic button on the Shuttl App helps the commuter trigger emergency response, when in danger plus a physical panic button is available on each Shuttl SAFE bus</li> Live <keyword id="6354857" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CCTV">CCTV</keyword> recording has auto alert feature which alerts the aggregator if anyone inside the bus is in danger</ul>AFTER DE-BOARDING <ul><li>Homecheck, a call-back confirmation to ensure that she has reached home safely</li></ul>The safety of the customer doesn’t stop just in the bus but by the above feature also goes beyond where a user’s journey is tracked on-request right down to her final destination.

 

 <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="59730212" title="Here’s why Pepperfry is taking the Omni-channel route before IKEA enters the Indian market" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="Jul 24, 2017, 10:00 AM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div>




 <keyword id="217165" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amit-Singh">Amit Singh</keyword>, Co-Founder of Shuttl told Business Insider, “With 20,000 completed rides and 450 buses, we are trying to make public transport convenient for all. As our last passenger gets dropped off at latest 11 PM, we wanted to enable a great experience which is not tainted by worry or boredom. Our prices for routes typically start at Rs. 49 and go up to Rs. 89 which is affordable for most. With an assured seat, the customers only tend to gain from this service.” Singh also assured that the prices of the daily pass will not be affected as these costs are a part of customer acquisition for the company. Shuttl SAFE is also equipped with productivity tools for the commuter such as Shuttl TV, with exclusive content by Shuttl that engages the commuter while travelling to work. All seats shall be provided with earphones for the commuters to experience engaging content on Shuttl TV. Thus, controlling sound-levels within the Shuttl thereby taking care of the commuter’s privacy where she is also free to engage in any other personal activity without any disturbance. In addition to this, free WiFi will be available that allows commuters to read, socialize, shop and manage their personal tasks when travelling. Ride-share is also another new feature that Shuttl has launched with SAFE where the commuter can share their ride details with a friend or a family member who can then track their respective rides. All Shuttl buses will be equipped with these features and would be rolled out in phases on all Shuttl routes by the end of this year starting with the safety features.

Shuttl is trying to be the safest commute option for the working class

Keeping in mind the vast online commuter market, India’s top cab aggregator, <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> is now prepping-up to introduce <keyword id="3071546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="motorcycle-taxis">motorcycle taxis</keyword>. 
 The Bangalore-based cab aggregator also plans to launch a shuttle bus service. Not just this, but Ola users will now be able to avail <keyword id="3072073" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="car-pooling">car-pooling</keyword> feature on its mobile application, reported The Economic Times. 
 
The motorcycle taxis and shuttle service, however, might face regulatory issues as these do not have any legal frameworks so far. 
 
Internal sources, requesting anonymity, informed that the bike taxis will be on the lines of Indonesia's GoJek, Blue-Jek and Grabbike, which is being used to transport people as well as goods. 
 Another major add-on to the mobile application, <keyword id="3071503" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="OlaShare">OlaShare</keyword>, is being worked-on for quite some time now. The company, however, declined to respond on the email queries by the business daily. 
 
The firm is also in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-Cabs-new-round-of-fund-raising-to-value-it-above-5-billion/articleshow/49072304.cms">advanced stage of closing a financing round</a> of about $500 million (Rs 3,000 crore), which will give a muscle to the firm for its forthcoming plans. 
 The new services, if compared to the other cab-service providers, might give a tough fight to San Francisco-based <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword>, which is targeting to enhance its business outside the US with India being one of the most potential markets. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Uber-hopes-to-make-India-its-second-largest-market-sees-Ola-as-competition/articleshow/49087294.cms">(​Uber hopes to make India its second-largest market, sees Ola as competition)</a> 
 
Uber, however, introduced UberPool, its car-pooling service in India, starting with Bengaluru. 
 
Kartik Hosanagar, a professor of technology and digital business at The Wharton School termed the bike-taxi move an interesting one and said, "As of now, it should be seen as an experiment. But one with tremendous potential for Ola... However, the company would have to navigate around regulations." 
 
HeyTaxi, a Mumbai-based motorcycle-taxi company which was launched in June, came under fire from the city's transport department, which has termed the service illegal. 
 A top official at <keyword id="151058" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Transport-Department">Delhi Transport Department</keyword> said the state was framing a scheme for a motorcycle-taxi service but there were issues to consider. "As of now it will be deemed illegal. We were planning to launch such a service in Delhi but have put it on hold due to safety concerns," he said. Instead, Delhi launched a scheme for renting self-driven motorbikes in August. 
 
Car-pooling services, too, are in a regulator grey zone. Several state governments encourage personal carpooling as a way to lessen traffic and pollution, but as a business, the service is not covered under any legal framework. 
 
Safety is another area of concern, as riders would have to car-pool with strangers. Meru Cabs verifies co-riders with their PAN or Aadhaar numbers while BlaBlaCar mandates a social network account such as Facebook for logging in. 
 
Experts, on the other hand, agreed upon the fact that car-pooling as a business has huge potential. 
Image: thinkstock

Ola is going for the kill! Uber already sees it as competition

Bengaluru Municipal Transport Corporation (<keyword id="6371543" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BMTC">BMTC</keyword>) seems to have learnt a lesson or two from cab aggregators <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/two-new-apps-to-take-on-ola-and-uber-in-ncr/articleshow/57788204.cms">Ola and Uber </a>in order to retain new customers and attract new ones. 
 
The public transport service is all set to reduce fares for its AC buses while also introducing flat rates on some routes like Kempegowda International Airport, three BMTC officials. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/you-may-find-it-difficult-to-opt-for-carpool-in-bengaluru-heres-why/articleshow/56889041.cms">You may find it difficult to opt for carpool in Bengaluru. Here’s why</a> 
 
While it would decrease the minimum fare from Rs 15 to Rs 10, it would also make cuts in rates for successive stages, which fall at roughly two kms or three bus-stands. 
 
Talking of non AC buses, there would be no change in the minimum ticket price, but for the second stage, the price would most likely drop to Rs 10 from Rs 12. There is no plan to change the fare for successive stages of non AC buses, or daily and monthly passes. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/four-member-mounted-patrol-will-now-guard-bengaluru-streets/articleshow/57873068.cms">Four-member mounted patrol will now guard Bengaluru streets</a> 
 
There have been several demonstrations by Bengalureans regarding reduction in these fares and increase in BMTC’s fleet, given that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/this-is-what-paytms-new-office-in-bengaluru-looks-like/articleshow/57794554.cms">Bengaluru</a> ranks second only after Mumbai when it comes to public transport fares. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/shout-out-to-indian-cities-look-what-bengaluru-is-doing-to-fight-pollution/articleshow/57750358.cms">Shout out to Indian cities! Look what Bengaluru is doing to fight pollution</a> 
 
(Image source Automotive Telematics in India)

Bengaluru public transport service takes cue from Ola and Uber; slashes fares

After getting its hands on a whopping $400 million deal in April this year, now online cab service provider, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ola">Ola</a>, is all set to get another huge sum of Rs 3,150 crore ($500 million). 
 
As reported by Economic Times, officials who were directly aware of the development informed that the deal might add to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/On-Demand-Car-Service-Uber-May-Be-Raising-At-A-Massive-3-Billion-Valuation-Or-Higher/articleshow/21347585.cms">valuation </a>of the company. The current valuation of <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> is $2.5 billion which might go up to $4.5 billion. 
 
The official, on condition of anonymity, informed ET, "The deal could be finalized in about 2-3 weeks." "As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Uber+">Uber </a>gets more aggressive in India, Ola will need to burn more cash to maintain its market leadership position," another source further added. 
 
An Ola executive said that the firm is targeting to raise $550 million at a post-money valuation of $5 billion. Reports of bringing new investors onboard have also been heard. 
 The Bengaluru based firm, however, denied making any comments on the matter. Ola, which is a <keyword id="163404" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Softbank">SoftBank</keyword> backed company have investors including Russian billionaire <keyword id="303107" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Yuri-Milner">Yuri Milner</keyword>'s DST Global, Singapore's GIC and New York based hedge fund Falcon Edge and also Tiger Global, Steadview Capital and <keyword id="144381" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Accel-Partners">Accel Partners</keyword> are major investors. 
 
Ola, so far, has raised around $676 million in six funding rounds from over a dozen investors. 
 
"The company needs cash to invest further in new businesses as well as continued discounting (for customers)," informed a source. 
With acquiring another taxi-service provider <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=TaxiForSure+">TaxiForSure </a>earlier this year, Ola, currently, is present in around 10o Indian cities. 
 
One of Ola’s biggest rivals, San Francisco-based Uber, which is valued at an estimated $50 billion, has grown swiftly in India since its launch in Bengaluru in 2013. It is now present across 20 cities. 
 
The company is currently working on several new initiatives, including carpooling, on-demand food and grocery deliveries, on-demand bus aggregation and logistics. 
 Ola's spurt in revenues has been aided by the $200-million acquisition of rival <keyword id="1428790" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="TaxiforSure">TaxiForSure</keyword>, whose revenues have doubled since the deal closed in March this year. But Ola still accounts for over 80% of the revenue of the combined entity. Ola currently gets over 80% of its bookings through its mobile application. 
 
Image: indiatimes

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