GUWAHATI: Shillongites finally have an app-based cab service they can call their own!
Shillong Cab, as it has been aptly named, is Meghalaya’s first home-grown cab aggregator with already close to 400 cabs offering the service since its soft launch last week.
As of now, the service covers the whole of Meghalaya and parts of Assam, including Silchar and Guwahati.
“We are the pioneers of such a service in Meghalaya after putting up about five months of hard work to develop the app on Android platform. We have ensured that the real-time database of the drivers’ location is maintained so that when a user requests for the service, the cab closest to the user is available,” Damanbha Lato, the founder member of Shillong Cab, told The Shillong Times on Monday.
There are additional options such as one-time password (OTP) authentication for both users and drivers on the app.
“Drivers have to upload all documents, including licence, registration and insurance apart from bank details, identity and address proof, to the server. Besides, there is an SOS option for both commuters and drivers to go to in case of an emergency, which ensures safety,’’ Lato said.
“As a matter of fact, if a commuter thinks he or she is in danger, the SOS option helps send the information to the 24×7 call centre (cloud based), police control room and five other contacts,” Lato said.
Besides, options such as outstation sharing, outstation rides, et al, have been incorporated in the app. “The purpose is to make it easier for commuters to address the issue of last-mile connectivity and convenience of pick-ups from a destination as well as to open up avenues for the registered drivers to optimise his earning potential,” he said.
As of now, drivers, primarily from the taxi associations in the state, have registered with the cab aggregator. “We are targeting to scale up driver registration to about 400 more in the next 15 days,” Lato said.
“Let me also clarify that only the existing drivers/vehicles and not an additional fleet would be utilised. Therefore, the service would not add to the congestion in Shillong. On the contrary, it will help reduce congestion as these taxis will not be positioned only in stands of crowded places like Police Bazar, Polo or Keating Road but spread across the city,” he added.
Currently, the promotional activities of the service such as branding are taking place in Shillong.
On the rates applicable, he said the service provider was working on the best rates, which would be competitive and “pocket-friendly”.
“There will be a base rate and thereafter whatever rate is applicable per km. We are working on a mutually beneficial rate,” he said.
“Three months down the line, hopefully, we will be moving to other state capitals of the Northeast,” Lato said.
As of now, commuters in the pine city can indeed expect a “Christmas gift, with the formal launch of Shillong Cab scheduled within the next eight to 10 days”.
