Kerala Govt Comes Up With Desi Alternative, Launches State-Owned Cab Service 'Kerala Savaari'

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala state government is all set to tussle between rental taxi service giant Ola and Uber as it launches its own homegrown taxi service 'Kerala Savaari'.

Notably, the project will be implemented in the Thiruvananthapuram municipality on a pilot basis and all its drivers must have a police clearance certificate.

The Kerala Savaari app will have a panic button system for help in case of emergencies. Either driver or passenger can press this button without letting them know each other. This will help in getting the services of the concerned enforcement agencies faster.

Named "Kerala Savari", the online taxi hiring service is being rolled out by the state Labour Department linking the existing auto-taxi networks in the state with an aim to ensure safe and dispute-free travel for the public at affordable rates prevailing in the state.

Earlier speaking to the media, Minister for Education, Labour and Skill Development, V Sivankutty said, "This is for the first time that a state government is launching an online taxi service in the country. It is perhaps the first such system in the government sector in the world itself... A completely safe and dispute-free journey is the promise given by the Kerala Savari".

At present, as many as 500 auto-taxi drivers in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation limit are members of the scheme. Officials of various departments have imparted training to them in various subjects.

Further, Kerala Savari would charge only eight per cent service charge in addition to the rate fixed by the government, which was 20 to 30 per cent in other online taxis.

The amount, collected as a service charge, would be utilised for the project implementation and promotional incentives for passengers and drivers

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