KOCHI: “She taxis” launched amid much fanfare in 2014 is struggling to survive in Kochi. While the taxi service has been operating successfully in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, commuters in Kochi have deserted the all-women cabs. Out of the 13 cabs, only five are running on a regular basis in Kochi, and the women drivers struggle to compete with the newly introduced online taxi operators, said P.T.M. Sunish, managing director of Kerala State Women Development Corporation, which launched the service.
“We’ve constituted a committee to study the drawbacks and other factors for the poor performance in Kochi. The committee will submit its report next month based on which measures would be taken to revamp the service,” he said. Meanwhile, the person in charge at its Kochi office told DC that a few women drivers are getting regular corporate trips and airport pick and drops and are earning to the tune of Rs 30, 000 to Rs 50,000 a month.
“But, they are not ready to take city trips citing heavy traffic congestion and poor roads due to ongoing Metro works. The number of station points in the city has been reduced. The drivers complain that when they get an average Rs 35,000 per month, Rs 15,000 has to be spent on fuel alone,” he said. She Taxi was initiated by Gender Park of the department of social justice with an aim of empowering women through a unique business model. It was in May 2014 that the service was launched in Kochi by former chief minister Oommen Chandy after its success operation in the state capital.
