Rapido to launch pool taxi services to Bengaluru airport starting at ₹350: Report

This initiative is expected to lower costs significantly compared to the high fares passengers currently pay for private rides.

Published on: Nov 21, 2024, 13:44:13 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Ride-hailing platform Rapido is gearing up to launch taxi pooling services for Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, aiming to offer shared and cost-effective transportation options, Indian Express reported.

According to report, Aravind Sanka, co-founder of Rapido, announced the initiative during the EV & Future of Mobility session at the Bengaluru Tech Summit on Wednesday.

Rapido aims to make airport-to-city travel more affordable by launching a pooling service that allows multiple passengers to share a single vehicle, the report added.

This initiative is expected to lower costs significantly compared to the high fares passengers currently pay for private rides, while also enhancing accessibility.

Arvind Sanka highlighted that shared rides are a practical solution for making transportation affordable without requiring significant infrastructure investments. “The idea is simple: optimize the resources we already have by allowing people to share rides. One vehicle can serve multiple passengers heading in the same direction,” he explained as reported by the publication.

Rapido has already introduced autorickshaw pooling in Bengaluru, focusing on areas with high demand for rides on similar routes. The response, according to Sanka, has been positive, with shared rides becoming increasingly popular.

(Also Read: New scam in Bengaluru? Techie alerts passengers who take cabs to Kempegowda International Airport)

Airport trips starting at ₹350

Rapido’s airport pooling service is expected to rival existing options like Quick Ride, which offers airport trips starting at ₹350. Currently, aggregator apps charge between ₹900 and ₹1,400 for private rides to the airport.

Rapido is working on a balanced pricing model to benefit both passengers and drivers according to the Arvind Sanka.

(Also Read: KSR Bengaluru railway station to mirror Kempegowda airport in ₹1,500-crore makeover: Report)

Recently, a Bengaluru techie exposed a new kind of scam perpetrated by a few cab drivers who take passengers to the airport on a daily basis. He asked people, especially women, to be careful while travelling to the airport in cabs, as the drivers might charge extra money by implementing this vile plan.

A techie named Shivam Sourav Jha took to X and wrote, “So folks, here is a new scam going on in Bengaluru by our beloved cab drivers when going to the airport (with girls, especially). They stop vehicles midway citing no fuel and ask you to pay at the petrol pump, saying 1100 is shown, but I would need only 1000.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.