JOIN USAfter the bus and metro, the government is now planning to jump into the cab aggregator market by launching its own company.
Transport Minister D C Thammanna said he has mooted the idea as a solution for the first- and last-mile connectivity gaps. “Many commuters of Namma Metro and the BMTC have complained about connectivity gaps. At the same time, a government cab aggregator will help more locals by providing jobs,” he said.
However, the minister noted that there was no formal proposal yet.
“I will hold discussions with officials and companies like Infosys on the IT infrastructure needed for back-end operations. I will also consider public opinion before taking a decision,” Thammanna said.
When it was pointed out that the government had recently dropped plans to privatise KSTDC cabs following a protest by the drivers, the minister attributed the problems to bad management. “The KSTDC cabs are suffering because they were not managed well. Our plan is to give the responsibility of managing the cabs to the BMTC,” he said.
He said Ola and Uber were forcing out Kannadigas from their platforms. “Kannadigas are forced to shell out a greater part of their earnings. So, they are dropping out and leaving the space for drivers from Bihar, Orissa and other states. We need to protect the interests of our people,” he said.
He said he was yet to hold discussions with officials of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation or transport department. “The back-end operations need about Rs 60 lakh. If the government can manage it, it can provide quality service at an affordable cost,” he said.