KOCHI: Kerala Taxi, an online taxi service portal supported by the CPM, was launched in the city on Thursday, to keep up with the changing requirements of customers and to ensure work for traditional taxi drivers.
The portal, www.keralataxi.co, was inaugurated by CPM district secretary and former MP P Rajeev. It is operated by the Ernakulam District Car Driver’s Welfare Society, based at Vyttila. Earlier, ‘Express’ had reported that the CPM-backed online taxi service would hit city roads on Thursday.
In addition to the online portal, the Society has set up a 24X7 call centre at its Vytilla office to help customers book taxi when the website is not available.
Earlier, clashes were reported between online taxi service providers and traditional taxi men, with the latter accusing the former of upsetting the sector by operating on lower charges.
Welfare Society secretary D Manikuttan said the project was being launched on pilot basis in the city with 100 drivers. “The Society aims at securing the service of 3,000 drivers from across the district as part of its phase-II expansion. Besides city service, long-distance trips can be booked in advance through the website, which offers online payment facility also,” he said.
On the portal, cab service will be available in three categories. Passengers will be able to register their names and provide details like location and drop point. Registered passengers will receive information about the driver, and will be contacted by the assigned driver later.
However, the service is not as cheap as Uber and Ola. The rates approved by the State Government for cab service will be applicable - minimum charge Rs 150 for Rs 10 per km.
“The purpose of the project is not to compete with corporate online cab service providers like Uber, or to merely imitate them. But, it aims at ending the illegal practices in the sector and its monopolisation by corporates,” said P Rajeev at a press conference here on Thursday, adding that it was not a CPM project and that the Society was not controlled by the party.
“Online taxis are illegal as they operate flouting the law and the norms set by a judicial commission with regard to the rates.
Across the world, corporates have sabotaged traditional taxi services, and the same is being done here also. In Bengaluru, the current fares of online taxis are much higher than what they were when launched,” pointed out Rajeev. Drivers, irrespective of their trade union background, are free to join the Society. All the dealings, including finance, are managed by the Society. Drivers will also be imparted training on the technical aspects of the online service and also the etiquettes to be followed while dealing with passengers.
KERALA TAXI
➤ The Ernakulam District Car Driver’s Welfare Society sets up online portal www.keralataxi.co, and mobile App KERALA TAXI
➤ The project is being launched in the city on a pilot basis, with 100 drivers
➤ Drivers can join the Society and operate the service, irrespective their affiliation to trade unions