Black and yellow Mumbai cabs go digital

Mumbai’s black and yellow cabs have gone digital with the launch of a mobile app. called ‘Aamchi Drive’ (My Drive). The app. enables commuters to engage a cab without standing at the kerb-side and flagging it down. Launched by transport minister Diwakar Raote, the mobile app. also includes the blue and silver AC cabs. Bringing the black and yellow, and silver and blue AC cabs, of Mumbai on par with cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, the mobile app. is connected to mobile wallets like MobiKwik. Expected to help tide over the complaints of taxi drivers refusing trips, the mobile app. will link to a central control room, which will assign a taxi by sending a message to both, the driver and the customer. There will be no extra charge (service charge) for booking. Taxis will ply as per the RTOapproved fare. There will be no surge pricing. Rides will start at Rs.22.15 for the first 1.5 kilometres, and Rs.14.84 for every subsequent kilometre. In case of AC taxis, fare will be Rs.28 for 1.5 kilometres, and Rs.18 for every kilometre thereafter. A sum of Rs.5 will be added to the customer’s bill as a convenience fee according to the spokesperson of Sun Telematics, which is known to have helped launch the app. Some 3,000 drivers are known to have enrolled for the service.