Bengaluru: Cab aggregator booking kiosks at Metro stations soon

Bengaluru: Leading online cab aggregators Ola and Uber have joined hands with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to set up cab booking kiosks across Namma Metro stations, making it the first ever private-public partnership to facilitate last-mile connectivity in India.  

On February 17, Uber announced that its cab booking booths will be made functional across 12 Bangalore Metro stations in April. The general manager of Uber Bangalore, Christian Freese, said that the new partnership ‘Namma Metro, Nimma Uber' could be a great example of how the public and private transport can come together to solve connectivity issues in the city.

“For Uber, it’s all about being a part of the fabric of the city. We look forward to working with BMRCL and giving metro commuters a reliable, efficient and affordable last mile transportation option, at the push of a button,” he added.

On Wednesday, Ola also announced that its kiosks will be operational from March in Trinity, Cubbon Park, City Railway Station, Peenya, Goraguntepalya, Yeshwanthpur and Mahalaxmi metro stations.

"Ola works closely and collaboratively with both state and central governments to help shape the future of India’s transportation, and create a smart infrastructure for all Indians,” said Anuj Sahai, vice president.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment towards bringing last mile connectivity solutions and making commute simpler, convenient and seamless for hundreds of thousands of Bangalore Metro commuters,” he added.

The commuters can book Uber cabs even when their phone batteries are running low or don’t have internet-enabled smartphones. They can approach Ola or Uber stalls to book cabs.

Freese stated that Uber will make sure a cab is waiting for you even before you step out of the station. “Uber representatives will also be available at the counters to ensure that commuters get an affordable ride to their destinations,” he added.