KOCHI: The She Taxi service, which was launched with much fanfare in Kochi, is struggling to stay afloat due to competition from online cab operators.
Two years after commencing operation in the city, the fleet of the 24X7 all-women taxi service is fast depleting, with most of its drivers switching to online taxi companies.
According to officials of the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC), the She Taxi project is hit hard by the emergence of online taxi operators in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The service was launched in the city in 2014 with 12 taxis. After two years, the number of taxis has come down to eight. It is feared that the number might drop further as the drivers are lured by online taxi companies.
The She Taxi service is availed mainly by women employees of corporate firms, for travel at night. Meanwhile, efforts are on to introduce attractive plans to curtail migration of She Taxi drivers to online taxis. “When started, She Taxi enjoyed a strong customer base, mainly comprising corporates. However, customers now opt for the much cheaper online taxis” said Hari, project officer at KSWDC, which supervises the She Taxi service in Kochi. “While the tariff of online taxi companies is Rs 7 per km, the minimum charge for She Taxi is Rs 250 plus service charge. A She Taxi ride from Vyttila to Ernakulam North will cost around Rs 350, while the same ride will cost only Rs 80-100 in online taxi. They also make special offers like free ride and heavy discounts. The main reason for the difference in tariff is that She Taxi customers are required to pay for the return trip also, while the App-based taxis operate point-to-point,” he said.
“Several woman drivers have attached their taxis with Uber and started working with the company. Around ten taxis with women drivers are plying for Uber in Kochi. Their number is expected to increase further,” said a Uber spokesperson. When contacted, some women taxi drivers who left She Taxi and joined online taxi firms told Express that their income had increased after shifting.