In a first of its kind by any government, Kerala’s Left Government is all set to roll out its online taxi-auto service ‘Kerala Savari’ – modelled on the lines of leading private cab aggregators on the first day of Malayalam month of Chingam that falls on August 17.
The online taxi hiring service is being rolled out by the state Labour Department linking the existing auto-taxi networks in the state.
KERALA SAVARI; FIRST OF ITS KIND
Kerala Minister for Education, Labour and Skill Development, V Sivankutty said the unique service was also envisaged as a helping hand to the auto-taxi labour sector, which is facing several challenges nowadays.
He said that the service will be launched on a pilot basis in Thiruvananthapuram city. A GPS-enabled mobile app, devised by the central PSU Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Ltd, will also be rolled out soon.
Stating that it was for the first time that a state government was launching an online taxi service in the country, he said that it was perhaps the first such system in the government sector in the world itself. He also emphasised that Kerala Savari was safe and dispute-free travel is the promise given by them.
Sivankutty also said that people now preferred online taxi services.
KERALA SAVARI; SAFETY
In a bid to enure safety of all pasengers, especially women and children, The Kerala Savaari app would have a panic button that could be used during emergencies by drivers and passengers both in complete secrecy. The vehicles would be fitted with GPS. Only drivers with police clearance certificate would be made part of the service. In the second phase, insurance and accident insurance coverage would be arranged for drivers and passengers.
KERALA SAVARI; IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
The Kerala Motor Transport Workers’ Welfare Fund Board is the implementation agency, which would act with the support of the departments like Legal Metrology, Transport, IT, Police and so on.
The online service would charge only eight per cent service charge in addition to the rate fixed by the government, which was 20 to 30 per cent in other online taxis. The amount thus collected would be utilised for the project implementation and promotional incentives for passengers and drivers.
KERALA SAVARI; WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER?
- Natives of Kerala state – The auto and taxi drivers who are natives of Kerala state are only eligible to be part of the initiative.
- Auto Drivers – The state auto-taxi drivers are eligible to be part of the initiative with their vehicles
- Own vehicle – The driver willing to register under the online taxi service should furnish correct details to show that they are the owner of the vehicle and so willing to be part of it
- Police clearance certificate – The drivers willing to be part of the initiative should have a police clearance certificate. It is to be produced at the time of registering and joining the scheme
KERALA SAVARI; DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR SCHEME REGISTRATION
- Identification proof – The drivers should furnish the correct voter ID, Aadhaar and equivalent as identification to register for the scheme
- Driving license – An auto or taxi driver should produce a license copy and register their name to be part of the initiative. The high authorities should verify it before they are considered to be eligible for being part of the Kerala Savari
- Vehicle details – The driver should have updated vehicle documents to be scrutinized by the higher authority before they are eligible to ride a vehicle under Kerala Savari
Reports said that Kerala has nearly five lakh autos and one lakh taxis. With the new venture, all of them would be brought under the system.
