Mumbai: Private mobile aggregator taxi drivers will launch the second application named S3 themselves as they feel they no longer need mega taxi companies as the city taxi scheme will soon put them out of the common man’s reach. The first application called Baxi was launched on March 26 by a group of drivers, and S3 is expected to be launched early May.
Baxi has got a tepid response and Maharashtra Tourist Permit Union member Praful Shinde said that the golden era of private taxi aggregators was over after government made it a level playing field in response to demand by auto-rickshaws and black-and-yellow taxis. “Everyone has read the draft of the city taxi scheme which clearly states that fares will be such that they will be competitive with black-and-yellow taxis and auto-rickshaws,” said Mr Shinde.
Currently, mobile taxi aggregators charge a base fare between Rs 40 and Rs 45 with Rs 6 to Rs 8 per kilometre. In comparison, the auto-rickshaw and black-and-yellow taxi’s charge minimum of Rs 18 and Rs 22, respectively, with a steady increase of Rs 4 to Rs 10 per kilometre resulting in the common man going with aggregator services.
A driver attached to Ola and Uber said, “Right now, everyone is unsure about what will happen when the scheme is finally implemented.”
