BENGALURU: With a large number of cabs staying off roads, autorickshaws became the preferred mode of transport for many regular cab commuters.
Taking advantage of the situation, the city’s lone app-based autorickshaw aggregator Ola send out promotional messages and mails asking users to take autos at a flat rate of `29 for the first 4km. As more people selected the auto, the auto option in Ola app was moved to the first position.
Ola seems to be the only app-based autorickshaw aggregator that has been succesful. Many startups that launched similar services in the city in the past have shut shop.
App-based auto aggregators Jugnoo and mGaadi have shut down operations owing to poor response and tough competitions from cabs.
“A dedicated mobile app for autorickshaw is no longer feasible. People may book an auto rickshaw only if they don’t get a taxi,” said a representative of a startup that stopped its auto services.