Trichy auto drivers launch app, to ply at govt tariff
Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com
Trichy:18.08.2019
To compete with appbased transport service providers, a group of autorickshaw drivers in the city has launched an exclusive mobile application to book rides charging fares in accordance with the tariff fixed by the state government. Unlike other app-based transport services which deduct charges, the autorickshaw drivers functioning under the banner ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ claimed the entire profit will go only to the particular auto driver.
While fleecing by a section of autorickshaw drivers has forced the public to opt for app-based rides that charge nominal fares, the autorickshaw drivers who ply for the cab aggregators claimed that their profit margin was very low. To overcome this, the group comprising 383 autorickshaws have launched the android mobile application ‘Trichy Meter Auto.’ Developed by a Trichy-based IT firm, people can book rides on the app after checking the tariff for the ride. “We have been charging a minimum fare of ₹40 per ride. The entire fare calculated in the mobile app will go to the particular driver,” Trichy Meter Auto coordinator A Mohammed Aliyar said.
To join the group, organisers said the autorickshaw drivers have to pay a monthly membership fee of ₹200 and agree to comply with the fare chart fixed by state government. “The mobile application for Trichy Meter Auto will be constantly upgraded. For now, the radius of autorickshaws available to book is kept at 1.5km. It will be increased from next week, making booking simpler,” said K Santhosh Kumar, co-founder of Opus Spark Technologies, the firm that developed the application.
The mobile application has been designed to book autorickshaw rides through phone calls if there is a delay in booking rides online. The application, launched on August 15, has seen 15-20 bookings in the last three days. The auto group said promotions for the mobile app will begin this week as they are in the process of inviting more autorickshaw drivers to their fold.
PLAYING IT FAIR:Autorickshaw drivers say the ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ is a win-win for both drivers and passengers. While passengers get to travel at nominal fares fixed by the government, drivers will get the whole charges for their trips, something other app-based cab aggregators deny them
Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com
Trichy:18.08.2019
To compete with appbased transport service providers, a group of autorickshaw drivers in the city has launched an exclusive mobile application to book rides charging fares in accordance with the tariff fixed by the state government. Unlike other app-based transport services which deduct charges, the autorickshaw drivers functioning under the banner ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ claimed the entire profit will go only to the particular auto driver.
While fleecing by a section of autorickshaw drivers has forced the public to opt for app-based rides that charge nominal fares, the autorickshaw drivers who ply for the cab aggregators claimed that their profit margin was very low. To overcome this, the group comprising 383 autorickshaws have launched the android mobile application ‘Trichy Meter Auto.’ Developed by a Trichy-based IT firm, people can book rides on the app after checking the tariff for the ride. “We have been charging a minimum fare of ₹40 per ride. The entire fare calculated in the mobile app will go to the particular driver,” Trichy Meter Auto coordinator A Mohammed Aliyar said.
To join the group, organisers said the autorickshaw drivers have to pay a monthly membership fee of ₹200 and agree to comply with the fare chart fixed by state government. “The mobile application for Trichy Meter Auto will be constantly upgraded. For now, the radius of autorickshaws available to book is kept at 1.5km. It will be increased from next week, making booking simpler,” said K Santhosh Kumar, co-founder of Opus Spark Technologies, the firm that developed the application.
The mobile application has been designed to book autorickshaw rides through phone calls if there is a delay in booking rides online. The application, launched on August 15, has seen 15-20 bookings in the last three days. The auto group said promotions for the mobile app will begin this week as they are in the process of inviting more autorickshaw drivers to their fold.
PLAYING IT FAIR:Autorickshaw drivers say the ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ is a win-win for both drivers and passengers. While passengers get to travel at nominal fares fixed by the government, drivers will get the whole charges for their trips, something other app-based cab aggregators deny them
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