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<ul><li>Mahindra and Mahindra has launched a premium shared mobility service called Glyd. </li><li>The service – Glyd – will have only Mahindra’s Electric Vehicles in its fleet. </li><li>While it has been launched in Mumbai, it will soon move to other cities.</li></ul>Mahindra and Mahindra has launched a cab-hailing service called <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/auto/mahindra-glyd-es-into-mumbais-app-based-taxi-business-to-rival-uber-ola-3580161.html">Glyd </a>for the office-going crowd. The service is powered by electric vehicles and will come as a new rival for companies like Uber and Ola in India. While the ownership is Mahindra’s, the fleet of 10 e-Veritos for now and drivers will be managed by a third party. The service has been launched in Mumbai and will expand to other Indian cities soon. The tech-based e-mobility service is designed for the office going crowd with features like web-conferencing along with curated entertainment and music content provided from partners. It also boasts of additional features like privacy screen, air purifier, wrap-around headrest among others. The services will be marketed as a “premium” service. "The company has from time to time provided innovative and first of its kind e-mobility solutions. Glyd is one such flagship premium e-mobility solution to redefine the in-commute experience of daily commuters," M&amp;M Managing Director Pawan Goenka said in a<a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/auto/mahindra-launches-electric-mobility-service-glyd-in-mumbai-10-e-veritos-flagged-off/story/322009.html"> statement.</a> India has seen a boom of mobility startups and services, led by the successful example of Ola. Earlier Ola had also experimented with electric vehicles in Nagpur in partnership with <a href="https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/ola-mahindra-partners-with-govt-to-build-electric-mobility-system-in-nagpur/58860040">Mahindra</a> to build an electric mobility system, but the idea didn’t make an impact with drivers even <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ola-s-electric-vehicle-pilot-nagpur-fails-take-drivers-return-vehicles-77782">returning</a> vehicles.. Ola now has a new target of having one million EVs in its fleet by <a href="https://factordaily.com/ola-sets-a-new-electric-vehicles-road-map/">2021.</a> See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chairman-of-mahindra-group-that-makes-electric-cars-upsells-indias-performance-on-paris-pact-on-climate-change-at-wef-2019-davos/articleshow/67656856.cms">At Davos: India's pioneer electric car maker is pushing for action against climate change</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/can-latecomer-maruti-suzuki-rev-up-electric-car-sales-in-india/articleshow/67534315.cms">Can latecomer Maruti Suzuki rev up electric car sales in India?</a>

Uber and Ola have a new challenger in India – and it’s a large car maker

You must have by now heard about Ola and Uber planning to raise their fares. This comes as real bad news for all the commuters who had started relying heavily on Ola and Uber taxis for their daily commute, owing to their economical pricing over the exorbitant fares charged by local taxis and autos. However, it seems commute is going to be a big problem all over again. 
 
Both cab aggregators have announced they are increasing their prices in the lowest category of cabs - the bracket used mostly by the middle and upper- middle class commuters. 
 
In Delhi, where Ola was charging Rs 6 per km apart from the base fare of Rs 40 for its Micro cabs, it will now be charging almost double - Rs 12 per km after the first 20 km. 
 
Same is the case with Uber. In Delhi for instance, an UberGo commuter will now have to pay Rs 12 per km after the initial 20 km against Rs 6 per km they were paying before. 
 
In Pune, the cost has been fixed at Rs 15 per kilometre for UberGo rides beyond the first 15 km. For Vizag it’s Rs 12 per kilometre after first 15 km and for Kolkata, it is Rs 12 per km after first 10 km. 
 
Similarly the Ola commuters in Bangalore would also need to shell out Rs 12 per km as compared to Rs 6 all through the journey earlier. 
For Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, the fare scheme for Ola Micro is same as Bangalore. 
 
Both Ola and Uber have taken this move to earn profits, as per the news reports. However, this price war also poses the right opportunity for rivals like Meru Cabs to grab their share in the market. 
 
Interestingly, Meru is already giving discounts to customers. It has recently introduced Exactometer, a system where the rider needs to pay exactly the fare estimated before the start of the trip, to counter the disruptive fare rates of Ola and Uber. 
 
It remains to be seen how this steep fare hike will go down with customers, and who really will have the last laugh.

With fares almost
doubled, riding an Ola or Uber will no longer be your cheapest bet

The Maharashtra government has off lately faced a lot of pressure from taxi and auto rickshaw unions for curbing Ola and Uber, the app-based taxi aggregators in Mumbai city, owing to which the government might soon take some action. 
 
The reason, some say, is that the government doesn’t want to offending such a large number of taxi and auto rickshaw drivers, looking at the political cost that it might have to pay for this later. 
 
"There are 1lakh auto rickshaw drivers in the city and about 30,000 taxi drivers, so if each driver has a family of three, then the number comes to around 5 lakh people. So you are antagonising five lakh voters during the civic elections in Mumbai and Thane," a government official told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/maharashtra-may-put-curbs-on-app-based-taxi-aggregators-ola-uber/articleshow/53409989.cms">ET</a>. "We are working on a plan where taxi and autos also operate like Uber and Ola with flexible fare structures," he added. 
 It was because of an assurance from the government that one of these unions called off a strike that was scheduled from yesterday. However, needless to say, executives from Uber and Ola were also not going to sit quietly, because of which they have sought an appointment with CM <keyword id="6355042" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Devendra-Fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis</keyword>. 
 
<a href="http://d152j5tfobgaot.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/yourstory-mumbai-taxi.png">Image source</a>

Maharashta might limit Ola and Uber operations in Mumbai

Owing to the increasing number of defaults on vehicle loans by Bengaluru-based drivers of ride-hailing apps like <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/companies/uber-central-comes-to-india-and-you-dont-need-uber-app-for-it/articleshow/58263865.cms">Uber</a>, India’s top banks have decided against issuing fresh loans to such drivers. Not only this, banks have also decided to push to recover dues from these drivers. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/transportation/bengaluru-public-transport-service-takes-cue-from-ola-and-uber-slashes-fares/articleshow/57990810.cms">Bengaluru</a> is the largest market in India for these cab-based aggregators. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/ola-founder-says-government-should-decide-if-us-internet-giants-are-capital-dumping-in-india/articleshow/58066428.cms">Ola founder says government should decide if US internet giants are 'capital dumping' in India</a> After almost one-fifth of its loan book in the city registered defaults, the State Bank of India (<keyword id="13222" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SBI">SBI</keyword>) has decided to stop giving vehicle loans to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/latest/bengaluru-feel-relieved-as-ola-anduber-drivers-call-off-strike/articleshow/57221582.cms">Bengaluru</a>-based drivers of cab-aggregator company Ola. "The total default amounts to Rs 60 crore in the city," said Gopal Krishan Kansal, chief general manager, small and medium enterprise, at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/finance/state-bank-of-india-sees-profit-boost-in-three-years-after-bank-units-merged/articleshow/58165449.cms">SBI</a> (Mumbai). It’s been a fee months that SBI decided to stop lending to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/ola-to-be-the-first-cab-aggregator-in-india-to-introduce-e-cabs/articleshow/57889692.cms">Ola</a> drivers in Bengaluru. "We (still) disburse loans to Ola vehicles in Hyderabad and Chennai (where) the default rate is almost 7%," Kansal told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/jolt-for-ola-in-bengaluru-as-sbi-decides-to-stop-disbursing-loans-to-their-drivers/articleshow/58351691.cms">ET</a>. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/ubereats-is-all-set-to-debut-in-india/articleshow/58218462.cms">UberEATS is all set to debut in India</a> As per bankers, these drivers started to stop paying their EMIs after the sharp fall in their incomes, owing to <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> and Ola cutting down on their incentives. Earlier, Ola and <keyword id="6364641" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uber-drivers">Uber drivers</keyword> used to get commissions ranging from Rs 70,000 and Rs 1 lakh per month. However, these incomes have now come down to an average of Rs 40,000-50,000, thanks to the scarcity of cash with these companies after years of heavy spending.

Emergency brakes on Ola and Uber in Bengaluru as banks decide against lending to drivers

An association of owners and drivers of taxis and autos protested at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, demanding inquiry and action against cab aggregator companies like Uber and Ola. 
 As per the newly-formed "<keyword id="3434885" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jai-Bhagwan-Taxi-Rickshaw-Sanghatana">Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sanghatana</keyword>," the transport charge of Rs 6 per km which is being offered by these aggregators is not fair since the rate is fixed at Rs 8 per km. 
 
The association also alleged that the government has joined hands with these service providers, conspiring to wipe off taxis and rickshaws from Mumbai roads. 
 Association president <keyword id="3434894" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bala-Sanap">Bala Sanap</keyword> threatened that he would take taxis off roads from July 26 in case the government fails to order an inquiry against these aggregators. 
 
However, the Mumbai Taximen's Union, which is one of Mumbai’s largest unions, did not participate in the protest. 
 
<a href="http://images.indianexpress.com/2015/06/auto-strike.jpg">Image source</a>

Mumbai’s taxi and auto drivers’ aassociation is not happy with Ola and Uber’s low rates

<ul><li>In Delhi alone, up to 22,369 acres of space can be saved by adopting rideshare (assuming rideshare substitutes for private cars), which is almost 4 times the size of <keyword id="184708" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Gandhi-Airport">Indira Gandhi Airport</keyword>. </li><li>Substituting <keyword id="6425768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ridesharing">ridesharing</keyword> for private cars could eliminate between 33%-68% of the total cars on the road and in-turn reduces congestion by 17%-31% across these cities. </li><li>Commuters take 1.5 times longer to travel a given distance during peak hours, compared to travel time during non-peak hours.</li></ul> The Indian government is doing away with the mandate that people require a commercial <keyword id="6361020" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Licence">licence</keyword> to drive taxis, autos, e-rickshaws and two-wheelers (for delivery). This would be good news for many and may also help reduce corruption in the issuance of commercial licenses. Up till now, people had to first get a private licence and then wait one year to get the commercial licence. This roundabout way has been done away with, however, the commercial driving licence remains mandatory for those driving trucks, buses and other heavy commercial vehicles. That said, there are some inhibitions that this move will increase congestion on the roads. Anil Chikkara, an expert on transport issues, told <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/commercial-driving-licence-not-needed-for-taxis-autos/articleshow/63822859.cms">The Times Of India</a>, “In an ideal condition, one cab replaces at least six private cars and an autorickshaw substitutes over a dozen cars since these are on the move and need little parking space.” And by that logic, this move will help ease the problem. Chikkara’s comment is echoed in a study by <keyword id="136162" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Boston-Consulting-Group">Boston Consulting Group</keyword> commissioned by <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword>, which says ridesharing could help deal with a mammoth problem - parking. If embraced, 760 to 22,000 acres of parking space in four primary cities -- Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore -- could be used for other purposes. In Delhi alone, up to 22,369 acres of space can be saved by adopting rideshare (assuming rideshare substitutes for private cars), which is almost 4 times the size of Indira Gandhi Airport. According to the report, peak congestion in cities averages 149% which is substantially higher than other comparable cities around Asia. Commuters take 1.5 times longer to travel a given distance during peak hours, compared to travel time during non-peak hours. This is currently estimated to cost a whopping $22 billion per year - and that is only in the four primary cities. Substituting ridesharing for private cars could eliminate between 33%-68% of the total cars on the road and in-turn reduces congestion by 17%-31% across these cities. According to Barney Harford, COO of Uber, "If car ownership trends continue, Indian cities risk coming to a complete standstill in only a few years”. He goes on to say, “Ridesharing can be part of the solution to traffic congestion because it uses technology to get more people into fewer cars. We can unlock our cities and their full potential, but we have to do it together.” A few years back, an average city dweller would baulk at the idea of sharing their taxi with anyone. Cut to 2017-2018, not only is ridesharing becoming acceptable, many in fact consider it to be a preferred way to travel. According to the report, over 79% of the respondents from the four primary cities -- Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore -- who plan to buy a car in the next five years said that they would reconsider the move, should the affordability and convenience of ridesharing match or exceed that of owning a car. The move will, of course, help Uber and <keyword id="6354720" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola">Ola</keyword>, who have been trying to push ridesharing in the countries. Not requiring a commercial license will likely help the companies ramp up the number of drivers who sign up for their services.

India just made it easier for people to become Uber/Ola drivers

<ul><li>In Mumbai, almost <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/uber-ola-drivers-on-strike-heres-the-impact-on-different-cities/articleshow/63361106.cms">60,000 cabs are reportedly off the roads</a> in the city today leaving most commuters stranded. </li><li>The companies initially offered huge overhead payouts to them, but now takes approximately 25% cut from each of their trips. </li><li><keyword id="488032" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-Navnirman-Vahatuk-Sena">Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena</keyword> has reached out to the police to get the ‘decision makers’ from these companies to meet them and the government, in order to come to an amicable decision </li></ul><keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> drivers have gone on an indefinite strike starting midnight 18 March, organised by the <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS). Though the strike is primarily affecting commuters in Mumbai, there have been some instances of cab unavailability in Delhi and Bangalore too. In Mumbai, almost <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/uber-ola-drivers-on-strike-heres-the-impact-on-different-cities/articleshow/63361106.cms">60,000 cabs are reportedly off the roads</a> in the city today leaving most commuters stranded. We spoke to a couple of drivers in Delhi who seemed to be blissfully unaware of the strike and claim they are happy and have 'no problem' with the company. Uber itself says that only Mumbai and Pune have been affected by the strikes and it’s business as usual in other cities. In a statement to the press, an Uber spokesperson said: We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals. We remain committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access stable earning opportunities, while giving riders a convenient option to get around their city. The Hon’ble Bombay High Court issued an injunction prohibiting unions, their leaders and anybody else from obstructing the activities of Uber driver partners. We welcome this, and hope that it will enable drivers to stay behind the wheel, something many have been telling us they wish to do. We have been listening to our driver partners all along and are committed to ensuring that Uber remains an attractive entrepreneurial opportunity for them. While the authorities have taken steps to ensure minimal disruption to our rider and driver communities, we hope that they will continue to enforce the order passed by the High Court. However, it's no secret that disgruntled cab drivers who bought in on the rosy picture painted by Uber and Ola, promising a lucrative career and a chance to squeeze into the middle class have today realised that it was nothing but a pipe dream. Initially promised earnings over a lakh per month, people from various walks of lives decided to give up their full-time jobs and even land to cash-in on this. However, today these drivers are finding it difficult to scrounge up enough money to pay up the loans taken to buy their cars. But this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this story. Drivers in India have been complaining about reduced incentives and overall earnings from Uber and Ola for a while now. The companies initially offered huge overhead payouts to them, but now takes approximately 25% cut from each of their trips. While both companies still do have some incentives in place, drivers say they are more difficult to achieve and working for Uber and Ola isn’t the “joyride” it once used to be. Examples overseas... When strikes against Uber first broke out in London back in 2016, Uber’s impact on Black Cab drivers’ income was one of the cornerstones of the movement. “Unite, the union that represents many black-cab drivers, claims the government is biased against their trade and claims light-touch regulation will threaten passenger safety as well as drivers’ incomes,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/10/black-cab-drivers-uber-protest-london-traffic-standstill">the Guardian</a> wrote at the time. These strikes have become somewhat commonplace and except for one big win for Uber drivers in the UK in November last year, the results, for the drivers at least, have always been wanting. In the UK, a panel ruled that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/11/10/british-panels-rules-uber-drivers-employees-not-contractors/851388001/">Uber drivers are employees and not contractors</a>, and therefore entitled to basic protections such as minimum wage and vacation pay. In September last year, Uber was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/22/uber-licence-transport-for-london-tfl">denied the licence to operate by Transport for London</a> (TfL) claiming that the company was not a “fit and proper” operator. Uber’s failure to report ‘serious criminal offences, obtaining medical certificates and driver background checks’ was the main reason behind this decision. This move affected the 40,000 people who worked for Uber, not to mention its 3.5 million users. In 2015, local <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/24/rio-de-janeiro-uber-protest-taxis">cab drivers in Rio de Janeiro protested against Uber</a> because they claimed they were the “official” drivers who were strictly regulated and fewer overhead costs gave them a ‘competitive advantage’. In 2016, Uber decided to cease operations in Austin, Texas because it didn’t find it feasible to comply with the regulation to fingerprint and run thorough background checks on all its drivers. In 2014, both Berlin and Hamburg, Germany voted to ban Uber because it did not <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/14/uber-taxi-service-banned-berlin-safety-grounds">‘do enough to protect its passengers from unlicensed drivers’</a>. The common thread of grievance is a predictable trio -- local taxi operators revolting against Uber’s competitive advantage, security concerns based on Uber’s slack regulation over the choice of drivers with regards to proper background checks, and unethical treatment of drivers. All of these complaints have been cited in India as well, but this is the second time such protests have sprung in as many years. Last year, the Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) called for a strike in Delhi against Uber and Ola on similar grounds, though the companies escaped unscathed at the time. Taking cues... The current strike in India hopes to achieve similar results. “This time things will be different because they have partnered with us,” says <keyword id="165480" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Naik">Sanjay Naik</keyword>, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNVS) transport wing. He believes that the <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-taxi-rules-discriminates-between-black-and-yellow-cabs-and-app-based-taxi-services-bombay-hc-4780461/">privileges that are mandated by law to the Mumbai Kaali Peeli’ (black-and-yellow) taxi drivers</a> should also be applicable to Ola and Uber cabs so that all drivers can benefit from them. He wants the implementation of the <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/some-relief-for-cab-taxi-operators-in-maharashtra/article9921977.ece">BC Khatua Committee’s proposal</a> that includes ‘relaxation of several provisions of the Maharashtra City Taxi Scheme, including lowering the permit fees for all types of cars to a flat ₹10,000 instead of a graded system ranging from ₹75,000 to ₹2.6 lakh under the City Taxi rules.’ He also accused the companies of giving preference to cabs owned by the companies instead of driver-owned cabs. In India, Uber offers to buy cabs that are then passed on to drivers. Drivers effectively work off their debt to the company, by paying a monthly instalment to them. What Naik is insinuating is that Uber gives these drivers more rides than those who register their own cars on the service. What is most interesting, however, is that MNVS hasn’t ruled out going into business for themselves. Naik told us that if things don’t work out, they will consider bringing all the drivers together under one umbrella and take out the middlemen (Ola and Uber). However, for now, the organisation has reached out to the police to get the ‘decision makers’ from these companies to meet them and the government, in order to come to an amicable decision that will not only benefit the drivers monetarily but also implement regulations so that all drivers come under the same law and benefit from it. With the predictable spate of grievances by Uber drivers, commuters and local taxi operators, will Maharashtra take a cue from international events and tighten the leash on the private taxi operators? If it does, will that, in turn, set the precedent for the rest of the country? UPDATE: Ola shared the statement below with us today. “Interest of our driver partners and customer convenience is of paramount importance to us. While, we have seen a slight improvement in our services in Mumbai, however for the situation to improve significantly it is imperative that intimidation of driver partners and vandalism of their cars by vested interests be stopped. New economy companies like us are counting on the police for normalcy to return.”

Indian drivers may finally be taking cues from global movements against on-demand cab services

In Delhi, the government is going to introduce a new policy for Ola and Uber, after which there would be a cap on fares that the customers are charged. 
 
The new policy is, as of now, under consideration by the Aam Aadmi Party government. 
 
"The draft is ready. Soon, it will be put up for public consultation," said Transport Minister Satyendar Jain. 
 
While asked to explain how the tariff and method of charging will be regulated, Jain said, "We have said meters should be there. Tariff will be what the government fixes, though it will be dynamic. They (aggregators) won't be able to impose surge pricing." 
 
The reason behind such policies is the huge amount of losses that black-and-yellow taxis and auto-rickshaws are suffering ever since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ubers-merging-with-Didi-Chuxing-in-China/articleshow/53490542.cms">Uber </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-has-done-something-which-will-make-it-way-ahead-of-Uber-Find-out/articleshow/53488024.cms">Ola </a>have started operations in the country. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Mumbai-to-limit-Ola-and-Uber-operations/articleshow/53417696.cms">Maharashta might limit Ola and Uber operations in Mumbai</a> 
 
"They play a game with you - sometimes charging you more and at other times less. We are fixing maximum (tariff) now and they won't be able to charge beyond that. (This maximum) tariff will depend upon the vehicle (which will be used)," Jain added. 
 
He said that the policy will be made keeping in mind the benefit of all stakeholders, while keeping up with the central government’s directions that allowed states to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-and-Uber-maximum-fares/articleshow/52865453.cms">cap maximum fares </a>for these aggregators. 
 
As reported a few days back, the central government has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/States-to-decide-Ola-and-Uber-meters-fate/articleshow/53499888.cms">authorised the state governments </a>to decide whether mobile app-based taxi aggregators would be charging fares based on digital meters or GPS in the capital. 
 
<a href="http://bitsnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/My-Experience-with-Uber-in-Delhi-Bangalore-Bitsnapper.jpg">Image source</a>

Delhi to cap tariffs for Uber and Ola

Nearly 35,000 traditional <keyword id="1363622" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kaali-Peeli">kaali-peeli</keyword> cabs in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=mumbai">Mumbai </a>have ditched the traditional route and have decided to take on two of their biggest competitors- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-is-going-for-the-kill-Uber-already-sees-it-as-competition/articleshow/49088741.cms">Ola</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=uber">Uber</a> head-on by launching an app of their own. 
 Embracing the onslaught of technology enabled businesses, two major taxi unions in Mumbai and have come together and launched its very own app called <keyword id="3202744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="9211">9211</keyword>, which will be offering instant cab services at government approved rates, no less, which is Rs 22 for the first 1.5 km. 
 Similar to how <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword>’s app work, 9211 will also allow users the facility of locating and booking cabs near them. 
 
According to Prem Singh, the leader of Mumbai Taxi Association, all 35,000 kaali-peeli drivers will be asked to enroll themselves on the app. 
 
The app is expected to be state of the art and come built with safety features, such as an SOS button and GPS tracking, while all movements of the cabs are to be monitored via a centralized control room. 
 
As the venture is in its initial stage, unions have decided to take only cash payment at the moment but officials have indicated that they will soon come up with an online payment option as well. 
 While this launch is an extremely positive sign of traditional old businesses adapting to modern scenarios and opening their eyes to the wonders of technology, it’s still left to see whether the move will actually turn out to be profitable for the cab owners or manage to disrupt even a little of the two <keyword id="6524998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cab-aggregators">cab aggregators</keyword>’ loyal customer base. 
 
Granted the kaali peeli cabs have number on their side with a fleet of 35,000 cabs, but what will seal the case in their favour is the ease of transactions on the app and how convenient and efficient the experience is, as compared to an Uber or an Ola. 
 
It’s also interesting to note that just last year Ola had tried its level best to incorporate these Kaali-Peeli cabs into their network and has also launched cash payment to attract customers. However, the idea didn’t take off with a meagre 2500 cabs signing up. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Mumbai’s
kaali-peeli cabs just launched an app, but is it enough to counter Ola and Uber?

This summer, commuters in the NCR, willing to ditch metros and buses, will have several choices to book their cabs. Apart from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-who-is-benefitting-from-ola-uber-drivers-strike/articleshow/57187851.cms">Ola and Uber</a>, they will have two new cab aggregator apps. This would also benefit them in terms of money, owing to the price war between these apps. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-ola-auto-drivers-are-changing-Indian-roads/articleshow/57539709.cms">These Women Ola Auto drivers are changing Indian roads</a> 
 
Cabby, the cab aggregator app to be launched today, has been developed by Sahil Arora, a seventeen-year-old school dropout from Gurgaon. The app will have 25,000 operational cabs in NCR, following which it would move to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/bengaluru-feel-relieved-as-ola-anduber-drivers-call-off-strike/articleshow/57221582.cms">Bengaluru</a>. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/online-cab-players-in-2016-completed-nearly-half-a-billion-rides-with-250-y-o-y-growth-in-india/articleshow/57273938.cms">Online cab players in 2016 completed nearly half a billion rides with 250% y-o-y growth in India</a> 
 Cabby would charge a base fare of Rs 37.50 for the first 2 km, followed by Rs 12.5 per km. Arora told ET that this is actually very competitive, and the fare would be lesser than what <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> and Uber charge. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/are-ola-and-uber-actually-tryingto-prove-poor-people-should-never-think-big/articleshow/57475233.cms">Are Ola and Uber actually trying to prove “poor people should never think big”?</a> 
 
The second cab-aggregator app to be launched today is from 74 BC Technologies, operational from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/UberMOTO-enters-Gurgaon/articleshow/51603369.cms">Gurgaon</a> where it is known for the bike taxi aggregator Baxi. 
 
Baxi is now launching cab services in seven cities including Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru. Acting as a technology provider for the app, it will be available free of cost for cab drivers. 
 
"Baxi will not take any commission from the drivers to use their technology platform," said Ashutosh Johri, co-founder of Baxi and an IIT Delhi alumnus. It would charge a base fare of Rs 50, followed by Rs 9 per km. Having around 1,000 cabs in its fleet, it would also have Re 1/minute wait charges. 
 
(Image source: Level Nine Services)

Two new apps to take on Ola and Uber in NCR

An official from the <keyword id="6404450" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways">ministry of road transport and highways</keyword> has told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/states-to-take-call-on-digital-meters-for-ola-uber-taxis/articleshow/53494991.cms">ET</a> that the power to decide whether cabs operated by apps like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ubers-merging-with-Didi-Chuxing-in-China/articleshow/53490542.cms">Uber </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-has-done-something-which-will-make-it-way-ahead-of-Uber-Find-out/articleshow/53488024.cms">Ola </a>should use digital meters or GPS to calculate fares will be given to the state governments, which can choose either rule for their states. 
 
"Since transport is a concurrent subject, we have left it to the states to decide. The ministry is in favour of all solutions that facilitate commuters," the official said, adding that they have received several suggestions on transport reforms, one of them being making digital meters mandatory, since GPS readings vary, depending on mobile data availability and strength. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Ola-and-Uber-maximum-fares/articleshow/52865453.cms">Centre asks states to cap the maximum fares Ola and Uber can charge</a> 
 
It’s because of the rising business of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Uber-and-Ola-new-surge-pricing/articleshow/52953940.cms">Uber and Ola</a> that black-and-yellow taxis and auto-rickshaws are left with no business, which has forced them to knock the government doors for justice. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Mumbai-to-limit-Ola-and-Uber-operations/articleshow/53417696.cms">Maharashta might limit Ola and Uber operations in Mumbai</a> 
 
In Karnataka, it has been made mandatory for cabs to operate with digital meters that can print receipts. 
 
In New Delhi, even though all cabs come with digital meters installed since it’s necessary for registration, they use GPS to calculate fares, which the ministry thinks is violation of the law. 
 
<a href="https://ictgediminas.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/20121020_224344.jpg">Image source</a>

States to decide if Ola and Uber should use digital meters or GPS to calculate fare

It's good news for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Here-are-10-facts-youve-never-known-about-Ola/articleshow/50729669.cms">Ola travellers</a> as the taxi aggregator has slashed fares of its 'share' offering by up to 45 per cent and expanded this service to three more cities. 
 
For now, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Delhi-to-set-ceilings-for-Uber-and-Ola/articleshow/53648325.cms">Ola has reduced the fares</a> across 7 cities where 'Share' is available. The highest reduction has been done in Mumbai and Bengaluru, where the fare has been revised to about Rs 3 per km. Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune will also see effective rates coming down to around Rs 3 per km. 
 Moreover, <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> has expanded 'Share' services to Chandigarh, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, taking the total number to 10 cities. The reduced fare will also be applicable in these cities.

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