Government of Kerala. Cab service to offer safe, hassle-free travel to passengers
Government of Kerala. Cab service to offer safe, hassle-free travel to passengers
Kerala Savari, the state government’s online auto-taxi serviceChingam will be launched on 1st day of Malayalam Panchang (August 17).
Designed on the lines of private cab aggregators, this service will be operated by the Labor Department in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation limits. Initially, it will be limited to autorickshaws, of which 500 are plying in the city, General Education Minister V. Shivankutty has said.
first of its kind
The service will ensure safe and dispute-free travel for the public at rates recognized by the Department of Motor Vehicles, apart from supporting auto and taxi workers who are facing several challenges in recent times.
The Minister said that the first online auto-taxi service by any government in the country, would add to the auto-taxi service in the state. At present, the difference between the fares paid by passengers and the fares received by motor workers in online cab services ranges between 20% and 30%. Apart from this, taxis or autos in the stand did not get many customers. Taxi stands were disappearing and people were being rendered jobless. People also loved online taxis that picked them up from anywhere. It is in this background that the Labor Department floated the idea of an online auto-taxi service.
8% service charge
Sivankutty said that in addition to the rates recognized by the government, a service charge of only 8% would be charged. other online Cab aggregators are charged between 20% to 30% as service charge, The service charge will be used for running the service and for giving promotional incentives to passengers and drivers. Unlike other cab aggregators, which hiked rates by up to 1.5 times when demand was high, the rates for Kerala Savari will remain the same.
Passengers and Drivers can cancel the booking for exact reasons. If this is done without any reason, a small fine will be imposed.
Priority was given to the safety of passengers, especially women and children, the elderly and the disabled. The Kerala Savari app will have a panic button that can be used by both the driver and the passenger in case of an emergency in complete privacy. GPS will be installed in the vehicles. Only drivers with Police Clearance Certificate will be made part of the service. In the second phase, insurance and accident insurance coverage will be arranged for drivers and passengers.
tourism potential
Efforts are also being made to tap the possibilities related to tourism. Drivers will be trained to act as tourist guides so that they can provide basic information to visitors. Special parking will be arranged at airports and railway stations for Kerala rides.
He said that the Indian Telephone Industry at Palakkad would provide technical support for the service, which would be monitored by the Motor Workers Welfare Fund Board.
Mr. Sivankutty released the Malayalam and English logo for Kerala Savari. Labor Secretary Mini Antony, Labor Commissioner TV Anupama and Motor Workers Welfare Fund Board Chief Executive Officer and Additional Labor Commissioner Ranjit Manohar were present.