Uber cheapest mode of transport in dist: Survey
KOCHI: Online taxi service Uber has got a shot in the arm with a survey by De Valor Management Consultants concluding the service charges the least fare from passengers in the district. In comparison, offline taxis charge the highest rates for the same distances.
The survey was conducted to understand whether introduction of online taxi services like Uber and Ola brought about any significant change in the transportation sector. It also looked to understand the reason behind the rising popularity of the services in comparison to tourist taxis and autorickshaws.
When it came to autorickshaws vs Uber, the survey found the fares charged were the same. However, easy availability and comfortable travel experience gravitated people towards the latter. The lack of proper meter services worked against auto-rickshaws, says the survey.
“If online technology and services are not introduced in autorickshaws or taxis, then Uber and Ola will take over the transportation market in a few years’ time. Uber Pool, where a commuter shares the ride and cost with others, is also disrupting other vehicle services,” the survey said.It concluded it was high-time autorickshaws and offline taxis shun conventional norms and form a common digital platform. The survey also recommended the government should take initiative in bringing in such a platform.
It suggested the government should punish autorickshaw drivers plying without meters. The issue of taxi drivers charging hefty fares should also be addressed.For the survey, eight students of Cochin University of Science and Technology took 20 trips from five parts of the city on auto-rickshaws and online and offline taxi services. The students travelled on different days and at different times. Finally, the different fares were analysed to prepare the survey results.