Few takers for cab kiosks at Namma Metro stations

Bengaluru: The businesses of cab kiosks set up at various Namma Metro Stations have taken a hit after the launch of full-fledged Metro Phase 1 for commercial operations.

"Earlier the Mantri mall to Majestic section was not connected by Metro, so people would make a cab booking from the City Railway Metro's Ola kiosk to Mantri mall. Before Yeshwanthpur metro started functioning, families in large groups would take cabs to Iskcon," explained Arun, a staff at the Ola kiosk.

Both Ola and Uber ventured into metro stations this year, on February and March respectively.

"We used to receive at least 12 bookings a day. After Phase-1 launch, it has come down to four per day. This is the state at all our stations kiosks except Cubbon Park, which sees quite a lot of cab commuters," Arun explained. "We will probably shut shop in a month at most metro stations and focus on the kiosks at Majestic and Yeshwanthpur railway stations, which are doing well."

Uber kiosks especially on the Purple line, also wear a deserted look with the staff idling. "I use the Metro every day, frequenting MG Road, Indiranagar and Baiyappanahalli stations. I never see any commuters booking cabs from Uber kiosks here, barring one or two customers at Baiyappanahalli. Everyone has a smartphone with the cab app these days, these kiosks are not really useful," said Sravanti, who works with Zomato.

However Christian Freese, General Manager Uber - South claimed, “We have received an overwhelming response for cab kiosks at metro stations.”

At present there are 12 Uber kiosks and seven Ola kiosks on both Green and Purple lines. It appears that with Metro entirely up and running, cab booking kiosk at these stations have become redundant.