Now, Maharashtra govt too wants to launch app for taxis, autos

Mumbai city news: Maharashtra has about 1.5 lakh taxis and 7.5 lakh auto rickshaws

A day after city taxi unions launched a mobile application for commuters, Maharashtra government has shown interest in developing another app for taxis, cool cabs and autorickshaws across the state. The government told unions it would appoint a contractor to develop, maintain and operate the app and a control room.

The state government would appoint a contractor to develop, maintain and operate the app and a control room. (Pic for Representation)

In the second meeting with the autorickshaw drivers’ and cabbies’ unions on Friday, the transport department talked about the technical aspects of the app and the procedure they will adopt to appoint a contractor.

“We were told that soon they are going to invite bids to develop a taxi-auto booking app,” said KK Tiwari, leader of Swabhiman Taxi Autorickshaw Union.

Along with app-based aggregators like Ola and Uber, three IT companies were also invited for the meeting to tell others about their apps. According to union leaders, an IT firm offered to provide app booking facility by charging Rs 50 per day and another at Rs1 per trip.

“Just an app won’t bring drastic improvement in taxi and autorickshaw services, so the government is focusing on changing the system,” said an official.

Maharashtra has about 1.5 lakh taxis and 7.5 lakh auto rickshaws. Of those about 50 taxis and 1.25 lakh auto rickshaws are in Mumbai.