Mumbai's Kaali Peeli taxi now available on Uber app

People living in south Mumbai can hire the Kaali Peeli taxi from the Uber app. This is a much-needed move for the Mumbaikars who can now order the second lifeline of Mumbai to their doorstep.

This is the first ever tie up for the San Fransisco-based cab hailing major with the local taxi owners. The development also comes on the heels of the strike called by the local taxi association in the capital city.

Now Uber app will be available for booking a taxi from Colaba to Worli areas for the customers at normal RTO-approved fares.

The company wants to make it big and aims to bring maximum taxis on the platform so that commuters can get affordable non-AC rides on demand, reports TOI.

According to one of its officials, there is a huge demand for cabs during summer and the Kaali Peeli service will fill the demand-supply gap at affordable rates as these Kaali Peeli taxis will ply by the meter.

For instance, a ride from Fort area to Worli, which would cost around Rs 140 for an Uber Go cab and Rs 180 for an Uber Premier cab will be priced at around Rs 120 for a Kaali Peeli taxi.

Earlier, Ola had partnered Kali Peeli taxi in the similar fashion. With the entry of Uber, the aggregation model will become competitive and beneficial for local drivers as far as monthly income and incentives are concerned.

Apart from the South Mumbai, there are plans to extend the service into western and eastern suburbs in near future. An estimate says there are over 55,000 Kali Peeli taxis ply on the roads of Mumbai.

In March, the app-based cab hailing firm witnessed a countrywide protest from driver partners and local taxi union over incentives and fall in income. The centre point of the revolt was Mumbai itself, where driver unions wanted a commitment of business worth Rs 1.25 lakh every month from ride-hailing majors.

The move by Uber and Ola may help to find a solution to fulfil the demands of app-based as well as local taxi drivers.