A new app for travel at lesser cost

A new app for travel at lesser cost

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 26, 2015: In the next few days, commuters hiring a taxi from Mangaluru International Airport to Manipal need not shell out Rs. 2,000. Instead they can pay Rs. 1,000 by using the taxi linked with VOW app.

Now taxi operators usually collect two-way fare. By using the VOW app they can pay one way fare. Innate Enterprise Pvt.Ltd, the Mangaluru-based technology startup, would shortly launch this app-based service.

“Unlike taxi aggregators, the taxi driver registered with the firm can make the booking on his own. The driver, after dropping a customer, will be getting a different customer for the return journey,” Pratyush Kumar, the Chief Strategy Officer of the firm, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The thought of designing the app, Mr. Kumar said, came after a few of them were fleeced by taxi drivers. Apart from studying various models, the team interviewed as many as 6,000 drivers. “While being customer-centric, the app provides a revenue model for drivers,” said Ravi Bora, the Co-founder of the firm.

Mr. Bora said presently the firm had signed agreements with as many as 30 drivers. They will be offering rides to Kukke Subramanya, Madikeri, Manipal and Udupi. “We plan to go live in the next few days and extending our operations to cities with air connectivity, pilgrimage places and tourist spots,” he said. The minimum fare for a mini cab for the first four km is Rs. 80. After that, the charge per km will be Rs. 12.

Courtesy: The Hindu