Rapido, a leading bike taxi platform has announced the expansion of Rapido Auto services in 11 additional Indian cities across five states. The service allows commuters to book autos for their everyday commute through a mobile app. The service was launched in Delhi NCR in the presence of Mahesh Sharma, a member of Parliament.
The company launched Rapido Auto service in 14 key Indian in 10 states in October 2020 and says it has witnessed an overwhelming response and demand leading to the expansion of the service. It plans to onboard more than half a million driver partners in the next six months and interested auto drivers can self-onboard themselves by downloading Rapido Captain App or calling the Rapido helpline number.
Aravind Sanka, co-founder, Rapido said, “We are witnessing a rapid demand and adoption of open and safe commute option in comparison to over-crowded public transport and expensive cabs. Autos have emerged as a preferred way of commuting post the Covid-19 pandemic after bike taxis. Through Rapido Auto, we aim to offer commuters another safe and affordable option for their everyday commute, apart from our Bike Taxi service and hope that it fills the gap of connectivity in these cities.”
Mahesh Sharma said, “Autos are increasingly being trusted as a preferred mode of transport, post the pandemic situation, as it is more open and affordable. With the launch of Rapido, I hope that we can standardise the prices and operations in the city to make it accessible for everyone.”
In addition to Delhi-NCR, Rapido Auto will be launched in key cities in Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Each Rapido auto is equipped with GPS technology ensuring access to continuous demand from customers around them. Through Rapido Auto, users will be able to track and share their ride in real-time. Rapido Auto, like Rapido Bike Taxi service, will have an in-app feedback mechanism to allow for and ensure a safe and consistent experience for commuters.
The company has recently announced several initiatives towards maintaining safety and following guidelines to protect the customer and the driver-partners, including safety back shields for bike taxi rides. For auto services, driver-partners will be expected to sanitise and clean the seats and all customer accessible areas, post every ride, along with mandatory usage of masks during the entire ride by the Captains and the passengers.