Ride-hailing app Rapido is all set to launch pool taxi services to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) early next year, cofounder of Rapido, Aravind Sanka announced on Wednesday.
The platform offers shared auto services for certain routes. The cofounder of Rapido was speaking at the EV & Future of Mobility session at the Bengaluru Tech Summit where he said the company was “foraying into airport pool taxis to enhance shared mobility at affordable rates.”
Sanka said, “The concept is simple: for transportation to be accessible to the masses, it must be affordable. The best way to achieve affordability without adding new infrastructure is by optimising and sharing the resources already in use,” adding that one vehicle can serve more than two customers.
“We have already launched auto pooling in Bengaluru and we’re soon launching an airport pooling service. The idea is to make rides from the airport to the city more affordable by allowing passengers to share rides, especially since they’re currently paying thousands of rupees for private trips.”
GST challenges, DPI critical for electrification
The mobility players spoke extensively on shared mobility and said that for India to grow and make its cities more liveable, a shared approach is essential. Assets and vehicles must be efficiently utilised, and at the same time, creating employment opportunities should remain a priority. Rapido’s Sanka emphasised that with the growing affordability of EVs, vehicle ownership is set to rise, particularly over the next 10-15 years.
Shan MS, cofounder & COO of Namma Yatri, said leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and open networks will be critical for the electrification of the ecosystem. Speaking on the sidelines of the panel discussion, Shan told ET that it's not just about individual companies finding value but a collaborative effort.
“The goal is for users to discover charging stations, access services, and make payments seamlessly, regardless of the service provider,” he said adding that in cities like Delhi, where charging stations are a challenge, and Bengaluru, where private players dominate, an open network could make a significant impact. “Instead of individual apps or closed platforms, we need a shared approach.”
Meanwhile, Anant Badjatia, CEO of InfoFast, a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and SUN Mobility, emphasised the need for unified policies between the Centre and states. “For battery swapping, we are paying 18% GST, which is a significant barrier. If this is corrected, it will give a massive boost to the industry,” he said, adding that the process for setting up charging or swapping stations needs to be simplified with one window clearance.
