Between December 2016 and February this year, Bengaluru witnessed several protests by drivers of Ola and Uber, who were unhappy about the reducing incentives from the cab-hailing companies. As a solution to end their woes, several members of the Ola TaxforSure and Uber Drivers’ Association had enlisted the help of JD(S) President HD Kumaraswamy to float their own app.
Months after mulling over the issue, the drivers’ union plans to launch the app next month with the help of Kolkata-based technology startup – Savetur Digital Private Limited – which is providing them with the software called TYGR.
“We will launch the new service in August with the help of Savetur which owns the TYGR app. We want to name the app Namma TYGR or Namma Huli but it has not yet been decided,” Tanveer Pasha, former President of Uber, TaxiForSure And Ola Drivers Association told PTI.
In the next two days, members of the association and Savetur officials are said to meet former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy at his residence to finalise the deal, including the launch date and signing of documents, Pasha added according to the PTI report.
Savetur will run and manage the business according to a model drafted by drivers’ union. “The model is satisfactory to both drivers and the riders. The drivers’ union will control and supervise Savetur through their company, which is in the process of registering its name as Huli Technologies,” Pasha added.
The new app will be launched in Mysuru, Mangaluru and Belagavi after the Bengaluru launch.
“Huli Technologies will focus on driver benefits. Drivers will get 10% commission, insurance and family benefits,” Pasha said.
The company plans to raise Rs 12 crore to run and sustain business at the initial stages and has already roped in a Singapore-based company to invest in the app, Pasha said.
“The company will give Rs 5 lakh worth of life insurance, Rs 5 lakh accident insurance and Rs 2 lakh medical insurance to the drivers annually,” he said.
The app will include three to four car categories that will show up on the app. The rate for a mini hatchback is pegged at Rs12.50 per km, a sports sedan at Rs 14.5 per km, a utility vehicle at Rs 18.50 per km and an outstation cab option as well.
There are also plans to set up five private patrol security cars to attend to drivers’ problems like facing drunk riders. It will also help drivers during medical and legal emergencies as a result of an accident.
Tired of demanding better incentives and stopping attachment of new cabs which they said affects bookings, these drivers had asked for Kumaraswamy’s help to launch their own app.
However, the delay in launching the app was caused because of the JD(S) President’s doubts about the move affecting his image.
“I am not very keen on my name being used for the taxi companies. I genuinely want to help the drivers as they are from poor families who live in rural areas but I don’t want it to be seen with a political angle and distort my image,” he had earlier said.