Aamchi Drive- taxi unions to launch their app

Taxi unions are ready to lock horns with cab aggregators like Uber and Ola, as they are all set to launch their mobile phone application- 'Aamchi Drive' from June 29 using which Mumbaikars will be able to call for a black and yellow cab without worrying about being fleeced in the name of surge pricing.

"There will be no refusals nor any surcharges and the tariff will be same that has been fixed by the transport department .i.e. Rs 18 for non AC cab and Rs 28 for AC cabs. The customer will have to pay just Rs 5 per trip extra upon the fare as service charge," said AL Quadros, General Secretary of Mumbai Taximens Union, which along with Mumbai Taximen Association has decided to develop the app.

The app, which is available on both Android as well as IOS will work on the same lines as that of other app based cabs. "Customers can select their location and find AC or non AC cabs and based on their preference book a ride and the nearby cab driver will have to select the ride to pick up the customer. Infact the driver will only get to know the destination once he picks up the customer and starts the ride thus eliminating the chances of fare refusal," said the veteran union leader adding that they will have an edge right from the start as black and yellow drivers know every street of Mumbai and will not depend on maps to reach destinations.

By using the app one can also book rides for others as well. "Currently there is lot of confusion if one books a ride for someone else on the existing app based cabs as the driver ends up calling the one who books the ride but here there is a provision of adding the phone number of the person travelling that will not lead to any chaos," said another union member adding that unlike Uber, Ola or other fleet cabs the driver does not have to pay anything to anyone.

According to union leaders there was a lot of excitement amongst cab drivers regarding this app and they expected atleast 2,000-3,000 cab drivers signing up as they want to give a fitting reply to Ola and Uber that has impacted their business in a major way.