Following in the footsteps of call-taxi operators, a number of autorickshaw drivers are now using app-based location services in order to ply call autos.
With the mushrooming of call-taxi services, autorickshaw drivers are facing stiff competition as many passengers prefer to travel by call taxis.
V. Suresh, a resident of Ashok Nagar, said: “I have to haggle with autorickshaw drivers and many refuse to accept rides. If call autorickshaw services eliminate these problems, I will prefer them over cabs for shorter rides.”
Now, not only has Ola Cabs launched autorickshaw services on its app, but other autorickshaw aggregators too are switching to models similar to call-taxi services.
For instance, a month ago, the Auto Raja service introduced a mobile app that will indicate where the drivers are and how many of them are available.
Aishwarya Raman, founder of Auto Raja, said, “Through the app, we will know which drivers are in a particular area. A message will be sent to these drivers with details of where the passenger is and the first person to accept the ride will be allocated the trip.”
For autorickshaw drivers who do not have smartphones, an SMS will be sent and their location tracked using their SIM cards. “We have helped 700-odd autorickshaw drivers purchase smartphones by offering them an EMI scheme,” said Ms. Raman.
The app was developed in collaboration with a London-based developer team and it is available in English and Tamil. The Auto Raja service can be booked through call, SMS or WhatsApp on its helpline number.
Namma Auto, which operates around 250 autorickshaws in the city, also plans to launch a call-auto service. M. Abdullah, managing director of Namma Transport Corporation, said, “Our service will be launched in January and will allow passengers to book autorickshaws on WhatsApp, SMS, email, helpline or by calling the driver directly.”
The Namma Auto fleet will be expanded to 1,000 autorickshaws and drivers will be hired from various marginalised communities.
CallZila, a neighbourhood application that enables autorickshaw booking, is another service available to passengers. Another CallZila application will allow call-auto service providers to locate and track their fleet.
According to Magesh Kumar, managing director of CallZila, organising the autorickshaw drivers is one big hurdle. “Aggregating autorickshaws needs a change of mindset among the drivers,” he said.
