No online taxis to airport in Kerala

Kochi: The exuberance over app-based taxi services improving connectivity to and from airports and other locations in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram at lower costs has become short-lived with the services virtually stopping plying to these destinations.

Drivers site the revised remuneration pattern which promotes shorter trips and their inability to pick up passengers from these points due to objections by traditional taxi drivers as the reasons.

“I prefer travelling in app-based taxis because they are cheaper, safe and the drivers are polite,” said Minu Korah Vadakedath, a psychologist with a kakkanad-based institution. “However, these days they refuse to come to certain locations like the airport and the Infopark. I understand this is due to threat from traditional taxi and auto unions.”

Uber initially paid an additional incentive of '90 for a single trip to Nedumbassery airport but has stopped it now, said PRS Kumar, president, Kerala Online Taxi Drivers Union.

“With the increase in demand and inadequate taxis under their platform, the companies now offer cash incentives for working additional hours at a stretch,” he said. “As per the latest wage structure, a driver gets '4,300 for 19 trips on a single day and Rs 1,700 for 10 trips.”

The companies have taken out the peak hour and non-peak hour slabs, too, and it’s the number of trips operated by a driver that matters now.

As on December 2015, there are 3,107 online taxi drivers in the Ernakulam region (Aroor-Angamaly stretch) as against 350 in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Online Taxi Drivers Union said the threat from unions of traditional taxi and auto drivers still exist, especially from areas such as airport, Amrita Hospital, North railway station and Willingdon Island. “We’re set to file an affidavit in the High Court later this week,” Mr Kumar said.

The threat perception to Uber and Ola taxi services prevails in Thiruvananthapuram too, though the services are yet to gain much popularity in the state capital as it is in Kochi.

It is learnt that there were even incidents of traditional taxi drivers hiring Uber or Ola service to airports at odd hours and assaulting and threatening them. Owing to this risk, many Ola/Uber drivers hesitate to take up calls to airports or railway stations during odd hours.

MVD to implement flexi rates

The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) would implement ‘flexi-rate’ system in its proposed ‘e-Cabs’, also proposed to be launched on the lines of the online cab service providers.

“We have submitted the report in this regard to the government. The rates charged will be competent but we will adopt the flexi-rate model as is done by corporate companies. This means more the demand, more the rates and vice-versa,” Transport Commissioner Tomin J Thachankary said.

The software has already been developed by public sector Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). Those owning taxis equipped with GPS and having a smart phone can apply online.

The officer said all trade unions would be taken into confidence and members encouraged to join the network. “We will help them in getting bank loans,” he said. An added advantage is that the MVD can monitor the cabs while being hired.