At a time when users of online app-based cab services are complaining of paying staggering amounts as surge charge, a new service, Obey Cabs, is coming to Kolkata with a promise that it would not apply surge charge. The new cab service will be launched on 7 May.
The new online app-based cab service is being brought by a Ghaziabad-based online transport network company which is currently operating the service in Lucknow.
As claimed by officials of the cab aggregator, the company is all set to launch its services from next week keeping the rates lower than those of the existing service providers. “The charge that we will keep with us, is the minimum in the
industry. We do not intend to apply any surge charges. Our charges will be nearly half of what other aggregators are charging,” said the firm’s CEO Vikash Gupta.
The new app cab service, as pointed out by the officials of the company, will be available on both smartphones and normal mobile phones. While the services from smartphones will be available on the company app, the cabs could be booked from ordinary cellphones by sending a text message or giving a missed call to the company’s toll free number.
The pilot project will include services only within the city up to Salkia, Madhyamgram, Joka and Sonarpur as the farthest points.
To emphasise women’s safety, the new app cab aggregator includes cameras inside the vehicles, apart from panic buttons.