With an aim to give app-based cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola a run for their money, the Shiv Sena’s transport wing will launch an new app the black and yellow taxis and autos at the party’s dussehra rally on Tuesday.
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray will launch the app in the city. The taxi unions had infact, launched a similar app a few days’ ago but it failed to take off as most of the drivers were not tech savvy.
However, Shiv Sena has claimed that it’s leaders will train the drivers to use the technology and also help them in buying smart phones to operate this app. “We will offer the app to all taxi and auto drivers. The basic idea is that people should get prompt transportation.
The ordinary taxi and autos will continue to ferry on meters unlike Ola and Uber that increases its fare during peak hours,” Shiv Sena’s transport wing chief Haji Arafat Sheikh said.
The facility will be limited to Mumbai city initially and extended to Thane and rest of the state in phases. The Sena is also planning to make the app available for trucks and tempos that would help them to get online business, Mr Sheikh said.
On the failure of the previous such app, the Sena leader said the party would train the drivers on the use of the app. “The party will support them in buying new smart phones so that they are able to use the technology. We have 8,000 members in our union. We will be offering the app service to all the taxi and auto drivers who are willing to use it,” Mr Sheikh said.
One such app was launched by another union for the black and yellow taxis but it failed miserably. The taxi drivers were unable to navigate the app, owing to unfamiliarity with the technology and this was a result of factors such as age and unavailability of smart phones. Realising the taxi drivers could not operate the technology, the union then adopted call-in facility to get customers.
