Infrastructure
The initiative seeks to protect commuters from being overcharged by auto-rickshaw drivers for short trips. (Namma Metro/ facebook)
Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is poised to enhance the commuting experience for metro passengers through a strategic collaboration with Namma Yatri (Moving Tech Innovations Private Limited).
Namma Yatri is India's first ride-hailing app built on a truly open network providing complete transparency in ride booking for both drivers and customers. It provides services to commuters without the involvement of any middlemen.
This partnership aims to tackle the long-standing challenge of last-mile connectivity by introducing dedicated auto-rickshaw services at metro stations.
As part of this initiative, BMRCL, Namma Yatri, and the Bangalore Traffic Police are developing a specialised app for metro commuters. This app will enable passengers to seamlessly book auto-rickshaws from their nearest metro stations, ensuring safe and reasonably priced travel options.
The project will commence with a trial run at Indiranagar Metro Station. By the end of this month, Namma Yatri will set up a pilot counter at this station, with a full launch scheduled for June. If the pilot is successful, the service will be extended to other metro stations across Bengaluru.
The app is designed to streamline the booking process for both commuters and auto-rickshaw drivers. Drivers will have the ability to select destinations from the metro stations and prioritise specific rides through a dashboard system. The app will operate on a queue system, ensuring that ride requests are efficiently managed. If no immediate ride is available, the request will be transferred to a secondary queue for regular ride availability.
This innovative approach aims to resolve the issue of last-mile connectivity, which has been a significant inconvenience for metro users. It also seeks to protect commuters from being overcharged by auto-rickshaw drivers for short trips.