<p>Bengaluru: The state government is preparing to launch its own ride-hailing app in February 2024, but it's not clear who will run it or how much it will cost. </p>.<p>What's clear is that the app will work on a no-profit, no-loss model, according to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy. </p>.<p>"We are making preparations for the launch, but it's still early days," he told <em>DH. </em>"Discussions on funding and maintenance are still ongoing. We will make an announcement in January." </p>.<p>Reddy, who became the transport minister in the Congress government in May, is keen that the government launch a mobile phone app that offers cab and autorickshaw rides. </p>.<p><strong>Court cases</strong></p>.<p>The Transport Department is fighting multiple court cases against ride-hailing behemoths Ola, Uber and Rapido.</p>.<p>Some of these cases have challenged the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator Rules, 2016, which laid down the guidelines for the functioning of app-based ride-hailing firms.</p>.<p>A second case is against the department's diktat that apps cannot offer autorickshaw rides. Then there is the case against the ban on bike taxis. </p>.<p>The High Court of Karnataka has restrained the department from taking any coercive action against the firms. </p>.<p>Auto and cab drivers in Bengaluru have been upset with the firms, saying they charge huge commissions for facilitating the rides. Reddy said a bill he checked showed that the aggregator had taken Rs 350 out of the total fare of Rs 800. </p>.ARDU slams Namma Yatri, says it developed ride-hailing app.<p>In September, when private transport vehicles went on a strike, one of their 32 demands was to restrain Uber and Ola from charging "illegal" cab fares. The firms are also accused of disobeying a court order on auto fares. </p>.<p>Reddy had announced that the government would launch its own app to solve the problem of "unfair" commissions. </p>.<p><strong>Don't keep us out of Namma Yatri management: ARDU</strong></p>.<p>The Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU) on Thursday slammed Namma Yatri for trying to keep it out of the app's management. </p>.<p>Touted as the auto drivers' own app, Namma Yatri was launched in November 2022 and has a 25% market share in Bengaluru. It has tried to distance itself from the ARDU, which claims to represent 32,000 drivers and was part of the app from the start. </p>.<p>Namma Yatri, owned by Juspay Technologies, said it "collaborates with over one lakh drivers, the majority of whom are not affiliated with any union". </p>.<p>The ARDU called for running the app as a digital cooperative. </p>.<p>"Namma Yatri is currently purely corporate-led and, we as its co-creators, have no specific role in its ongoing and future management," it said and asked for including inception stakeholders in the management. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The state government is preparing to launch its own ride-hailing app in February 2024, but it's not clear who will run it or how much it will cost. </p>.<p>What's clear is that the app will work on a no-profit, no-loss model, according to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy. </p>.<p>"We are making preparations for the launch, but it's still early days," he told <em>DH. </em>"Discussions on funding and maintenance are still ongoing. We will make an announcement in January." </p>.<p>Reddy, who became the transport minister in the Congress government in May, is keen that the government launch a mobile phone app that offers cab and autorickshaw rides. </p>.<p><strong>Court cases</strong></p>.<p>The Transport Department is fighting multiple court cases against ride-hailing behemoths Ola, Uber and Rapido.</p>.<p>Some of these cases have challenged the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator Rules, 2016, which laid down the guidelines for the functioning of app-based ride-hailing firms.</p>.<p>A second case is against the department's diktat that apps cannot offer autorickshaw rides. Then there is the case against the ban on bike taxis. </p>.<p>The High Court of Karnataka has restrained the department from taking any coercive action against the firms. </p>.<p>Auto and cab drivers in Bengaluru have been upset with the firms, saying they charge huge commissions for facilitating the rides. Reddy said a bill he checked showed that the aggregator had taken Rs 350 out of the total fare of Rs 800. </p>.ARDU slams Namma Yatri, says it developed ride-hailing app.<p>In September, when private transport vehicles went on a strike, one of their 32 demands was to restrain Uber and Ola from charging "illegal" cab fares. The firms are also accused of disobeying a court order on auto fares. </p>.<p>Reddy had announced that the government would launch its own app to solve the problem of "unfair" commissions. </p>.<p><strong>Don't keep us out of Namma Yatri management: ARDU</strong></p>.<p>The Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU) on Thursday slammed Namma Yatri for trying to keep it out of the app's management. </p>.<p>Touted as the auto drivers' own app, Namma Yatri was launched in November 2022 and has a 25% market share in Bengaluru. It has tried to distance itself from the ARDU, which claims to represent 32,000 drivers and was part of the app from the start. </p>.<p>Namma Yatri, owned by Juspay Technologies, said it "collaborates with over one lakh drivers, the majority of whom are not affiliated with any union". </p>.<p>The ARDU called for running the app as a digital cooperative. </p>.<p>"Namma Yatri is currently purely corporate-led and, we as its co-creators, have no specific role in its ongoing and future management," it said and asked for including inception stakeholders in the management. </p>