KOTA: In a significant expansion of the pioneering ‘Kota Cares’ initiative, auto rickshaw unions of Kota representing over 10,000 drivers have united to introduce reforms to transportation services for students, further cementing the education hub’s transformation into a model city for student welfare. The announcement comes just weeks after 4,000 hostel owners came together under ‘Kota Cares’ to introduce multiple student-friendly measures, including eliminating security deposits. Three Auto rickshaw unions presented their proposal to the district administration with the help of the Kota Student Welfare Society.

These unions, representing over 10,000 drivers across the student capital, have committed to a standardized fare structure, behavioral training programs, and enhanced support systems designed specifically for the city’s 1.25 students. The initiative marks the first time in Kota’s history that comprehensive transportation guidelines have been collectively established and displayed on all auto rickshaws operating in the city.

“Transportation is the lifeline of our city and often the first experience students have when arriving in Kota,” said Additional District Collector Anil Singhal, who presided over the meeting where the unions presented their proposals. “When auto drivers charge fair rates and provide good service, it creates a positive impression of our entire city. This unprecedented collaboration demonstrates our commitment to extending the Kota Cares philosophy to every aspect of student life.”

The reforms include several first-of-its-kind measures:

Standardized Fare Structure

• Fixed maximum fare of Rs. 20 per kilometer across all auto rickshaws
• Minimum fare of Rs. 30 for journeys up to one kilometer
• Standardized waiting charges of Rs. 50 per hour
• No additional charges on examination days or for student luggage

Safety and Support Measures

• Mandatory gatekeeper and behavioral training for all auto drivers
• Special focus on women auto drivers providing safe transportation for female students
• Protocol for reporting suspicious activities or student distress situations
• Continuation of emergency medical transportation services

Transparency Initiatives

• Fare charts and student guidelines are to be prominently displayed in all 10,000 auto rickshaws with the help of the Kota Student’s Welfare Society.
• Information displays at coaching institutes about transportation guidelines
• Clear protocols for passenger belongings and emergency assistance

“We were inspired by what the hostel associations achieved under Kota Cares,” said Bhupendra Saxena, President of Kota Auto Driver Union. “As the first point of contact for most students arriving in our city, we recognize our crucial role in shaping their Kota experience. These self-imposed guidelines reflect our commitment to treating these young aspirants like our own children.”

The auto unions’ representatives, including Deepak Tiwari, President of Hadoti Auto Rickshaw Hitkari Seva Samiti, and Mohammad Shakeel, President of Janseva Autorickshaw Union, collaborated on the proposal, demonstrating unprecedented unity across the transportation sector.

Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Police Ashok Kumar Meena praised the initiative, noting: “Auto rickshaws provide 24-hour service in our city, making them essential to student safety and mobility. This proactive approach by the unions will address multiple challenges at once, and the traffic police stand ready to support both students and drivers in implementing these changes.”

Implementation of the auto-rickshaw reforms will begin immediately, with fare displays and training programs rolling out across the city in the coming days.

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The app is discoverable Google Play Store and currently has 12,000 auto rickshaw drivers already registered

PUNE: ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) announces the launch of the ‘O Rickshaw’ buyer and seller app on the Network signaling a significant stride in urban mobility for the city of Pune. The app directly connects auto drivers and riders in the city on the Open Network.

The app is owned and operated by End Mile Connectivity Federation, a community-driven Section 8 entity established to empower auto drivers and provide Pune citizens access to safe, affordable auto rides. Over 12,000 auto-rickshaw drivers in Pune are already part of this federation and will now be discoverable on the “O Rickshaw app.” This initiative represents a pioneering moment as it is the first instance of a driver collective coming onto the ONDC Network, an endeavor made possible by the tech enabler Suma Soft.

The launch event had a distinguished line-up of key dignitaries including Mr. T. Koshy (MD and CEO of ONDC), Mr. Hardikar (MD, Pune Metro), Mr. Vivek Velankar (President of Grahak Manch), Mr. Suryakant Pathak (President of Grahak Peth), Mr. Surendra Brahme (Director of Suma Soft) and Mr. Shrikant Acharya (Advisor, End Mile Federation).

T. Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC shared, “ONDC aims to democratize e-commerce in India by empowering local communities. The ‘O Rickshaw app’ closely aligns with this vision and will greatly benefit the citizens of Pune. This launch is the result of ONDC’s mission of putting the control back in the hands of auto drivers and riders.  As Pune embraces this transformative journey in urban mobility, the app stands as a testament to the potential of tech in fostering positive change with inclusion and level playing field for all at its core.”

Suma Soft, a Pune-based technology service provider for the ONDC Network, has been instrumental in the successful development of the ‘O Rickshaw’ app. It is designed to empower drivers and is set to onboard an additional 35,000 drivers within the next 3 months, with plans to extend its services to other cities across Maharashtra in the next 6 months.

Surendra Brahme, Director at Suma Soft said, “Suma Soft believes in developing best-in-class solutions that ensure enduring growth and shared prosperity for all the stakeholders and the ecosystem at large. We are indeed very happy to be associated with the various components of India Stack including ONDC, AA, and ABDM, where Digital Public infrastructure is being explored to give solutions for growing India. This venture of creating value in the lives of Rickshaw Drivers is a step in that direction.”

Kedar Dhamale, Director at End Mile Connectivity Federation said, “End Mile Connectivity Federation aims to revolutionize the last-mile transportation system in India. We are trying to achieve the final stretch of travel that connects passengers to their ultimate destination. This could be a short distance between a bus or train station to a person’s home or office. We are also looking at it as a means of providing employment opportunities to the underprivileged sections of the society and welfare of the driver families.”

The launch of the O-Rickshaw app is a significant step towards achieving the goal of last-mile connectivity and promoting sustainable transportation in India. It not only improves the travel experience for passengers but also supports the government’s efforts to create a cleaner and greener nation.

One of the distinguishing features of the ‘O Rickshaw’ app is its commitment to a zero-commission model, ensuring that drivers receive their fair share. Additionally, the app adheres to government-mandated fares, making transportation affordable and transparent for users.

The post ONDC-Enabled ‘O Rickshaw’ App Launched In Pune appeared first on NRI News.

Given the current scenario, the impact of such strikes can have a far-reaching economic effect on a large section of the people in Pune. Rapido strongly believes in working in tandem with the Government’s vision of developing a strong gig economy as well as enabling access to livelihoods.

Micro mobility is the need of the hour in large cities across India. Services provided by Rapido are complementary to the existing mobility infrastructure and fill up the important missing blanks by providing services for last-mile transportation. The citizens of Pune deserve a reliable, on-time, and cost-effective mode of transportation, and Rapido fills in that purpose. If pushed into suspending services, Punekars will lose an option and will be at the mercy of the existing public transport infrastructure that is bursting at its seams.

Rapido is a law-abiding corporate and continues to operate within the framework of applicable laws. By the ruling of the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay, dated March 07, 2022, an aggregator who has applied for a license on or before March 16, 2022, can continue to operate in the State of Maharashtra. This ruling will continue until such time that the appropriate license has been granted. Furthermore, on April 21, 2022, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, directed for the status quo to be maintained since its application is pending consideration before the Mumbai and Pune RTA. In the order dated November 29, 2022, the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay has asked for the Pune RTA to reconsider Rapido’s application.

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