State plans to launch taxi app for kaali-peeli drivers

Mumbai: The state wants to bring out an application for kaali-peeli taxi drivers. But, according to sources, lack of education and unfamiliarity with technology among drivers is an issue that’s casting a shadow of doubt on the initiative.

In a closed door meeting with the taxi unions on Friday, the government officials assured the union that a working model of the application will be presented to them in another eight to 10 days. This comes after the launch of Aamchi Drive, an application by Sun Telematics Pvt. Ltd. on June 29.

According to the officials, multinational cab aggregator companies like Ola and Uber have also been contacted to get an insight into the inner workings of running their services. An official said, “Since the apps have a copyright, we cannot ask for inside information but the transport and state officials are indeed curious to know how it all works.”

He further added, “For us, the issue will be on how to train the drivers and how to make them comfortable with using the application.”

The fact that many taxi drivers belong to economically weaker sections, with their maximum educational qualifications dipping as low as 7th and 10th grades, too add to the concerns of the officials.

A. L. Quadros, the union leader and president of the Mumbai taximen union said, “I feel that everyone should be given a fair chance. So, with our application or even the one that the state is planning to launch, it would be better if the kaali-peeli taxi drivers too get their chance to work on a level field with the taxi aggregator giants like Ola and Uber.” Mr Quadros is the man behind Aamchi Drive.

Balasaheb Sanap of the Jai Bhagwan Union, said, “We were asked to give suggestions for the application and we have told them that we were to use the application, it should be ensured that our drivers won’t have to make unfair compromises.”