Dial-an-auto gets full marks

MiD DAY makes use of round-the-clock rickshaw service and finds service to be prompt, efficient

Dial-an-auto gets full marks

MiD DAY makes use of round-the-clock rickshaw service and finds service to be prompt, efficient

Two weeks after its launch, MiD DAY has found out that the dial-an-auto service in the city has panned out creditably.u00a0u00a0u00a0

No starting trouble: The auto that was booked by the MiD DAY reporter
from Camp to Fergusson College Road through the dial-an-auto service.
Pic/Nikhil Mane

How it started
The dial-an-auto service was started by former IITians Janardan Prasad and Mukesh Jha who first launched the project on a trial basis in April last year and it was winded up by December. The duo co-founded Ubida Solutions Pvt. Ltd for the service. It started with thirty vehicles, running for nine hours, and then expanded to 100 autos. "We wanted to see how things worked out and perfect the service by starting it on an experimental basis. It gave us an idea about the cost implications, the operational requirements and the number of consumers that can be served," said Jha.

The service
The fare chart for the round-the-clock service is the same as regular auto rickshaws. Commuters have to call 99229-04000 at least an hour earlier, as the number of autos operating is only 15. If the journey is less than 6km, a minimum amount of Rs 70 is charged. If it exceeds 6km, then regular fare will be charged according to the meter, along with Rs 15 as operational costs. Every auto is equipped with a Global Positioning System, which is tracked by the call center.

MiD DAY trial
Reporter Nikhil Mane tried out the service from MiD DAY office at Babajan Chowk in Camp to Chitale Bandhu on Fergusson College Road. The auto was booked around 5:15 pm for departure at 6 pm. The operator promised an arrival time of 6 pm, but the rickshaw (MH-12-DG-4357) arrived at 5.45 pm itself and reached the destination around 6 pm.

Another auto had already been booked from FC Road to Camp for a return journey and was supposed to arrive at 6.45 pm. This time, the auto was the same one and had been directed by the call center to wait for the customer, as it had no other engagement. Waiting charges were not applicable in this case, as two separate bookings were made.

MiD DAY also checked if cancellation charges are levied but they are not. An auto (MH-12-CH-5766) was booked around 7 pm for Solapur Road in Hadapsar. A call was made to the call center around 6.45 pm to cancel the booking, which was duly done without any extra charges.