As Metro takes the lion’s share, Ola and Uber look for ways to stay afloat

HYDERABAD: For taxi drivers, the opening of Hyderabad Metro has spelt doom with major commuter routes now being served by the Metro. Taxi drivers claim the app-based aggregators have also reduced the earnings for drivers on rides on the metro route.

“If I make Rs 80 from a ride from Miyapur to Balanagar, after the metro was opened the Uber cab rates on the same route have dropped to Rs 40,” said Sunil M, president Telangana Cab Drivers Association. “Now, Ola plans to come out with a ‘share pass’ for commuters on the metro route,” he disclosed.

Ola has fixed Ola Share rates for commuters hailing their service from MMTS stations starting at Rs 49 flat for a distance of 6 km and regular fares for the rest of the journey. The service operates along the lines of a bus pass but for dedicated routes only. In the run up to the metro inauguration, both Ola and Uber had tied up with the Hyderabad Metro, hoping to cash in on the lack of last mile connectivity. Ola is the only taxi aggregator app that can be used to book a cab through the Hyderabad Metro Rail’s T-Savari app. Ola was unavailable for comment.

The 30-km-long metro route used to be a major cash cow for cab drivers and many of them would opt for the cab-sharing feature that is in high demand on this route. Notwithstanding the impact of metro on commuter allegiance, the cab drivers have been at the receiving end and are faced with shrinking earnings even on cab- sharing service.

Souvik Gosh, a techie who uses Uber Pool as a transport option, always books two seats for himself instead of one. “I can save time. The driver would be near my destination but will give priority to a commuter who booked the ride before me. The ride gets extended and I may get delayed by an hour,” he said. If the cab-sharing ride costs Rs 120 for one person, it would cost him just Rs 140 booking the seats for two. The cab driver, on the other hand, loses a potential customer and the earnings from that ride.

“We have to make up for such losses or else we can’t pay the EMIs for our cabs,” said Shiva P, a driver with a taxi aggregator. “If we cancel a new booking while dropping someone off at his destination, we get fined Rs 300. So we call up the customer and ask him to cancel the booking as the customer gets charged only Rs 50 or Rs 25,” he added.

2.20 lakh footfall on sunday

Abandoned bag sends cops into tizzy at Metro station
Hyderabad: An abandoned bag at the Ameerpet Metro Rail station had sent the police into a tizzy for a couple of hours, on Sunday morning. The police heaved a sigh of relief when they found that the bag belonged to a Metro Rail worker.

According to police, an unidentified person called the police stating that he had noticed a bag containing explosive material at the Metro Rail station. Immediately, the SR Nagar police led by Metro Rail in-charge sub-inspector Rajendra Goud swung into action and brought bomb squads, clues teams and sniffer dogs to the place. The police conducted searches at all nook and corners at the Ameerpet Metro Rail premises and found an abandoned bag at the platform and thoroughly checked it. However, no explosive material was found in the bag. During checks, police collected footage of CCTVs at the Metro Rail station premises. It was revealed that the bag belonged to a worker of Metro Rail.

SHE Teams take to Metro to ensure safety of women

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad SHE teams on Sunday took a ride on the newly launched Metro trains in order to keep close vigil on miscreants teasing or harassing women. According to police, the SHE teams will observe activities going on during travel and record any instance of inconvenience caused to women and nab the harasser with video evidence to book relevant cases.

The teams have done awareness campaign to make people aware of how to approach She Teams, in case of any harassment. “Women need not suffer in silence. In case of emergency, 100 can be dialed or SoS button in Hawk eye mobile App can be used. WhatsApp no 9490616555, e-mail ID hydsheteam@gmail.com and Facebook ID SHETEAM can also be used for filing complaints or providing any information related to harassment of women,’’ said Swati Lakra, ACP of Crime.