Kaali-peelis get into the app game

Black-and-yellow taxi operators in the city have come up with a new application (app) to win back commuters by offering them a 20-per cent discount for booking a ride worth more than Rs 200.

The offer is valid from August 1 from 8 am to 8 pm, said Mulay Kothari, the developer and handler of the software.

“We had only 200 black-and-yellow taxi members until now and we wanted at least 250 drivers before we started the scheme. So, I spoke to the union leaders and to taxi drivers themselves who said that they will get the numbers up, and they did — we now have 270 members,” said Mr Kothari.

For now, the offer is valid from only two locations — BKC and Bandra — to any point in the city. The app was developed by black-and-yellow taxi drivers in the city as a way to compete with private radio taxi operators such as Ola and Uber.

“We are asking commuters who have shifted to private operators to download our app and try out our services. These taxi drivers, who have been losing their wages, are really trying hard to earn a living,” said Mr Kothari.

The only downside of the offer is that if commuters want to book a black-and-yellow taxi after 8 pm, they will have to make a call before the same to do so.

This means that if you want a taxi at 12 am from either BKC or Bandra, you have to pre-book it before 8 pm.

The app encompasses taxi drivers from the Mumbai Taximen Union, headed by A.L. Quadros and supported by Mumbai Auto-rickshaws Union, helmed by Thumpy Kurien.