Online bike taxis yet to catch on in city
Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, October 10
The new online bike taxi service, which is gaining popularity in other cities of the state, is seemingly less popular among Jalandharites.
While the online cab service of Ola has been successfully operational in the city for the past few years, the introduction of bike taxis in June has not got a similar response.
Only 10 permits have been issued till date for bike taxis by the office of the District Transport Officer here.
The work of registering bike taxis started in Jalandhar four months ago after government orders.
Officials at the office of the secretary, Regional Transport Authority, said, “Six permits were issued in July, while four were issued last month. Owners of two or three more bikes have come for registration, the process for which is underway. The permits are being issued after proper police verification and the examination of vehicles. No person with a bad record of driving or with bike that is more than five-year-old is being registered.”
The scheme is only for single passenger as the vehicle has to be driven by the owner and it cannot be given on rent to others.
The response till date is not so good as the people are not much aware of the facility yet, he added.
As the bike taxi service requires a software system and for an individual it is not possible to start an app for the service, persons who have received the permits are working on contract with taxi companies such as Ola.
The drivers have strict instructions to wear a helmet for the pillion rider and a first aid kit in their sling bag along with required devices for online surveillance and metering.
“Though Ola is offering great plans and services such as flat Rs 15 or flat Rs 50 rupee off up to rides for 5 km to 15 km, the response has not been satisfying. We are unable to achieve our daily target of having 10 bookings per day,” said a bike taxi driver.
“It is good that the service has been launched here. It is not only a convenient mode of transportation for residents but also a new employment avenue for us. So, it will be a win-win situation when residents start using the bike taxi service,” said another driver.
“As there are no women drivers yet, few women use the bike taxi facility. Even for a distance of 5 km, they prefer mini cabs when, for the same distance, the fare of bike taxi is comparatively lower,” said Kulbir Singh, a resident, who uses the bike taxi often.
“What is required to fetch good response and make it popular among the masses is that the taxi companies should offer good plans and the government needs to advertise the scheme in rural as well as urban areas”, he added.
