Namma Yatri pilots cab services in Bengaluru, official launch next week

Bengaluru: Autorickshaw aggregator Namma Yatri has begun offering cab services on a pilot basis in Bengaluru this week.

The zero-commission ride-hailing application is set to formally launch cab services on its application early next week, most likely on Tuesday, sources told DH.

The cab services saw a beta launch a few days ago, with the option to directly hail a taxi reflecting on the application’s home page. It has only now started to gain traction, they said.

“We are testing out the stability of the system and gauging the demand. Many people have begun taking it up, which is natural, as there was always a customer demand for this,” a source said.

The cab fares will follow the ‘zero-commission’ model of how auto-rickshaw rides are priced on Namma Yatri, which is what set the application apart from other ride aggregators during its launch. These are expected to offer a tough competition to existing cab aggregator giants in the city.

As of now, there is no perceived pushback from the auto-rickshaw driving community, the source said. “They are more than happy to co-exist with cab drivers.”

However, this could not be confirmed by anyone from Namma Yatri as they did not respond to any queries by DH.

The cab option currently offers three types of taxis: Eco, which are non-AC hatchbacks; Comfy, which are AC sedan cars; and AC SUV rides. The current pricing for Namma Yatri’s cabs is about Rs 10 to Rs 13 lesser compared to another popular ride-hailing application.