CPM launches app-based taxi

Kochi: Kerala taxi, the app-based online taxi services of the Ernakulam District Car Drivers Welfare Society got off to the roads on Thursday with the hope to improve the quality of taxi services in the state. CPM Ernakulam district committee secretary P Rajeev, who played a key part in making the idea of a desi-online taxi a reality, launched the pilot project with 100 drivers.

The project will be expanded in the coming days by involving the 3,000 taxi drivers in the district, Mr Rajeev said.  The promoters of the venture have also developed an application to facilitate accessing the services online. The application can be downloaded from Play Store free of cost.

The service will charge two-way fare in the initial phase unlike the other online taxi operators. The minimum charge for hiring Kerala Taxi will be Rs 150. Asked whether the project will be viable since other app-based services charge less, Mr. Rajeev said that the venture at present did not have the financial muscle to compete with the other operators who have the backing of multi-nationals.
A team headed by Mathew John of the Ethernet Web Solutions based at Angamaly developed the application.