<div>Looking to save on huge taxi bills, government departments and PSUs are now turning to popular ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber for their transportation needs, and have been promised service without any ‘surge’ pricing.<br /><br />Uber and Ola are looking at offering taxi services to government departments at special rates and have registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM). Besides, Ola is also in discussions with various public sector units (PSUs) for its ‘corporate’ offering.<br /><br />The GeM was launched last month for buying goods and services by Central ministries and departments for greater transparency in government procurement, which is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore a year.<br /><br />According to an official, the government is looking at significant savings as various departments currently shell out as much as Rs 40,000 every month for taxis.<br /><br />“What has been agreed is that they will give us a monthly bill, something they have never done. Second, for the government, there will be no surge pricing,” the official said.<br /><br />The official added that the organisations need cabs everyday and “if you get the Uber and Ola, it is economical. You also get a complete tracking of distance and clear-cut billing”. Ola Head (Corporate) Ankit Jain said the company is in discussions with various PSUs for its corporate offering. <br /></div>
<div>Looking to save on huge taxi bills, government departments and PSUs are now turning to popular ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber for their transportation needs, and have been promised service without any ‘surge’ pricing.<br /><br />Uber and Ola are looking at offering taxi services to government departments at special rates and have registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM). Besides, Ola is also in discussions with various public sector units (PSUs) for its ‘corporate’ offering.<br /><br />The GeM was launched last month for buying goods and services by Central ministries and departments for greater transparency in government procurement, which is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore a year.<br /><br />According to an official, the government is looking at significant savings as various departments currently shell out as much as Rs 40,000 every month for taxis.<br /><br />“What has been agreed is that they will give us a monthly bill, something they have never done. Second, for the government, there will be no surge pricing,” the official said.<br /><br />The official added that the organisations need cabs everyday and “if you get the Uber and Ola, it is economical. You also get a complete tracking of distance and clear-cut billing”. Ola Head (Corporate) Ankit Jain said the company is in discussions with various PSUs for its corporate offering. <br /></div>