Rates of speedboats that ply on this route vary between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 for a round trip, depending on the capacity.
The city's first boat cabs by Uber kick off tomorrow and they are a pricey affair. The six-seater speedboat will cost Rs 5,700 for a single journey from Gateway of India to Mandwa or Elephanta Caves, while a 10-seater would cost Rs 9,500. For the trip back, one has to make a fresh booking via the Uber app.
Rates of speedboats that ply on this route vary between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 for a round trip, depending on the capacity. The government also run ferries from the Gateway at a nominal Rs 150 per seat.
Prabhjeet Singh, head of cities, Uber India & South Asia, announced the launch on Wednesday but chose not to comment on the high pricing of the boat service that will start from February 1.
The company's speedboats can only be hired in toto, and there is no option of purchasing a ticket for a single seat.
At first, 15 boats will be made available for a pilot run of the project.
A boat owner who has partnered with Uber explained away the high fares by citing fuel prices and crew salaries. Uber stated that only licensed boat owners whose credentials have been vetted by the government will ply its taxis.
The state government has its reservations about the initiative, and has only permitted a pilot run so far.
"It is a risky initiative. There have been cases of boat accidents and we don't want another one. Uber has to follow safety protocol," said Sanjay Bhatia, chairman, Mumbai Port Trust. He added that he hoped the venture is successful. Uber is also expected to conduct inspections and ensure that boat owners partnering with it submit the necessary documents.
The boats, which will run at 20 knots, or around 30 kmph, will be equipped with life jackets and help lines for Uber, Mumbai Port Trust, Coast Guard and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). "If passengers have any issue with the service, the government will address it," said Vikram Kumar, CEO, MMB.
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