Brand new cool cab

A for-women-by-women taxi service, Forsche, will flag off in the city on March 19. Speak Up talks to working women and tourists if they are game for this spin which includes magazines, make-up kits and other essentials, of course, at a price.
Will it work?

Forsche shows potential. Women will feel perfectly safe commuting in a taxi driven by another woman. The service will be a blessing for disgruntled female tourists; the fare differential won't be much and it will save them the trouble of enduring ill-mannered cab-drivers, who enjoy swindling passengers. Women executives too will be pleased to avail of this facility, as long as they are able to get reimbursement from their company.

The prices (Rs2,500 for half-a-day and Rs4,000, the entire day) are a little on a steeper side. Though not many women would be able to afford this, a bunch of BPO employees could afford this luxury. As it is, they have to suffer cigarette-puffing male colleagues while getting dropped home in the company vehicle. 
Dr D'Silva. Marketing professor at an MBA institute

Mumbai's taxis are very safe for women. There has not been a single incident of drivers misbehaving with women. Cool cabs are operational since sometime now and the response is very good. Our taxis are aimed at the middle class and working people. We have to always keep in mind if we undertake an overhaul of our taxis, they should not become expensive.

I wish Revathi Roy all success in her endeavour, but as a business proposition, this will not work. It’s like the limousine service which was running in the city a few years ago, but ran into losses and had to be sold off.”
AL Quadros.  General Secretary, Bombay Taximen’s Union

Night service, lower tariff soon
The service is going to start from March 19, until then I am driving my own cab on a trial basis. This is a premium service, which will cost 25 per cent more than a regular AC taxi. You can hire the cab either for half a day at Rs2,500 or for the entire day (8am to 8pm) at Rs4,000. This is the beginning, so the tariff will come down, depending on the response.

There is no night service, though I know that’s the time when women would need this service most. We might start that in six months, depending on the availability of drivers. At present, we are aiming at women executives and are also tying up with hotels to provide this premium service.
Revathi Roy. Founder, Forsche

Definitely a novel idea, though very expensive. They don’t seem to have kept working women in mind before starting the service. It’s very expensive and not easily accessible. Why would I take a cab for half a day?

Mirrors and magazines are not going to impress me; most women carry their own make-up kit.   I haven’t had any bad experiences with the regular cabbies. They are friendly and helpful.
Kirti Dabir. Lower Parel

It’s a good concept, but why not have them running at night? They also should make it more accessible. I’ll definitely feel more comfortable with women drivers, although these cabs would be more appreciated in Delhi.

Our city is far safer. But I don't need a taxi for half a day. Instead of fixing prices on the hours, why can't they have it fixed on distance? They also need more publicity, otherwise how would women come to know about such cabs?  
Rekha Panchal. Dadar

It’s a great idea. It would be better if the timings are extended. Travelling late at night can be dangerous, especially for women. It doesn’t matter if the taxi has mirrors and makeup kits. A pink taxi will look cool and trendy. We need a service like this in England too, because it is not safe to travel alone at night. The current price is a little expensive though.  
Sarah Brough. England

It’s a brilliant idea. I’ve heard of a similar service in the UK. But tourists usually travel with families, so it doesn’t make sense to hire a cab or women. It is also very expensive and I wouldn’t use it to travel short distances. 
Vanessa Caru. France

*English-speaking, women chauffeurs dressed in a purple-pink salwar kameez will drive women.

*Forsche works entirely on a booking system. The cab has to be booked either for half a day or an entire day.

*The taxi provides big mirrors, a make-up kit with nail polish remover and a magazine rack.

*The woman driver would be well-versed with the city roads as well as shopping malls and complexes.