In what can be called a ‘Made in India’ initiative, cab drivers’ union Chaalak Shakti are all set to give a tough competition to Ola and Uber by launching their own App-based cab service called SEWA CAB from April 7.
Problems of cab drivers going on strikes or protest and passengers suffering from surge pricing may not arise any more. If their claims come true, they might even wipe out Ola and Uber from India’s capital. Attachment of cabs to the service will start from March 17 and run upto March 31 and will be followed by intensive training in soft skills to drivers.
Sahdev Panchal, a leader of the Union Chaalak Shakti, claimed that the quality of their service and experience of the customer with the technology will be at par with other companies.
“The union has contracted several service providers for technology, customer care, operations, marketing and other business related needs. Ola and Uber charges a commission of 27 per cent amounting to Rs12,000 to Rs20,000 per month from the drivers, Sewa Cab will charge a fixed monthly fee of Rs700.
The fare will be collected in cash initially but wallet payment system will be introduced soon. Moneys for all wallet transactions will also go directly into the cab driver’s account instead of routing it through the union,” said Panchal.
Meanwhile, Pawan Kumar, a key union leader, stated that their technology has “hail and go” feature which allows a passenger to hail a taxi on the street just like an autorickshaw.
Once a passenger boarding the vehicle, the driver will ask for his mobile number and feed it into the fare meter built into the driver’s app. The meter will start immediately, said Kumar
Welcoming all types of taxis under Sewa Cab, including tourist taxis and kaali peeli taxis, the union in a Press statement said that the date for the introduction of autorickshaws will be announced later. The service will be expanded to all major cities of the country over the next few months.
The union gave a live demonstration of technology using two drivers placed five kilometres apart. A booking was made using the fully functional app and it was immediately assigned to the closest driver who immediately called the customer on his phone. The driver started the ride and upon reaching the destination, the final fare was displayed. The demonstration worked flawlessly.
On being queried about the pricing, the union leaders said that their fares will be competitive and transparent. They said that the low fare of Rs6 per k.m. of Ola and Uber is a hogwash. It actually works out to Rs12-14 for Uber and Rs14-16 for Ola without surge pricing. When surge is taken into account, the average price between the two easily crosses the Rs15 mark. The union leaders challenged Ola and Uber to come clean over these rates.
“We request the people to take up the invoices for their last 10 rides and do the math for themselves. With Sewa Cabs, savings for the drivers will come from the abolition of 27 per cent commission which the Ola and Uber charge their drivers,” read the statement of the Union.