SOS alert for drivers in new cab aggregator, Tygr

BENGALURU: With a number of cases of assaults and robberies of cab drivers being reported off late, the soon to be launched cab aggregation app of cab drivers opposed to Ola and Uber, the TYGR app (earlier called HDK app) will feature an SOS button for drivers.This feature will enable the quick deployment of ready personals in case of any argument or dispute with the passengers.

There has been a delay of several months since it was announced that the app would be launched around Ugadi. The process of registering drivers for the app was started on September 21. Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola, Uber and Taxi For Sure Taxi Driver and Owners Association says that as many as 20,000 to 30,000 drivers were ready to get registered. "The app for drivers is ready and we will launch the app for customers in October. The registration will take around 15 to 20 days. While companies strive the best for customers in terms of the services provided, the drivers are often left out,” says Pasha.  There have been many cases of drivers suffering at the hands of unruly passengers, he adds.

He highlights that with the SOS feature a team will be deployed in various zones in the city who will carry out checks on the situation at the ground. “We are already in talks with a company who will provide trained people to work in this area. These teams will function in a manner somewhat similar to the police hoysalas and will roam around their respective zones and check on drivers and go the location of the problem,” says Pasha   

Sufiyan Yaqoob, a cab driver says that while aggregators like Ola and Uber have a mechanism where drivers can lodge complaints, however most of the time they are more inclined to listen to customers rather than a driver’s grievances. “When you complain to these companies we can never expect a prompt redressal. Usually, they ask us to bear with the situation, drop off the passenger and then they look at the problem,” he says. Sufiyan is hopeful that SOS feature in the new app will solve problems immediately as planned.