Ola and Uber resume service for essential travel in Pune

PUNE: Ride sharing service providers, Uber and Ola, claimed that they had resumed services for essential travel in Pune from Friday.
When more vehicles hit the roads, both drivers and riders would be seen moving with masks if they are comfortable riding with each other. The two companies said they had introduced a flexible cancellation policy to accommodate the wishes of both the rider and driver, if either thought it was unsafe to carry on with the ride.
During the onset of Covid-19 cases in the country in late February and early March, many infected riders who took cab rides ended up infecting the drivers. The two companies said both cabs and autorickshaws would be back on roads but did not state the number of vehicles that would sign up for resumption of services.
The driver partners have been at the receiving end after the nationwide lockdown put sudden brakes on their wheels.
Uber said people booking a cab for essential service would have to carry documentation as proof of purpose. It said drivers would have to upload a selfie prior to every trip with their masks on.
Ola said people would be able to book rides in and out of Pune, provided the travel was within the state. It said the cabs would be cleaned before every ride, the cabs/autorickshaws would be fumigated thrice a week and there would be temperature checks for drivers every 48 hours. The companies said the onus on what constitutes essential lied with the rider and the usual one-driver-plus-two-passengers rule would apply for all riders.
“A prescription is mandatory for travelliing to the hospital or clinic. If one logs on to Uber , there is a segment called ‘booking for essential services only’. The rider has to click on that first and confirm before being allowed to book,” a source in Uber said.