B'luru carpooling firms to cash in amid bike taxi ban, Metro & bus fare hikes

Traffic congestion on ORR

Carpooling firms are gearing up to expand their presence in Bengaluru amid an impending ban on bike taxis, rising Metro and bus fares, and increase in diesel prices.

A series of recent decisions have pushed up the cost of commuting in the city. On April 2, the Karnataka High Court directed bike taxi operators such as Rapido, Ola, and Uber to halt services within six weeks unless guidelines are issued. Separately, the state government hiked the sales tax on diesel, raising prices by Rs 2 per litre from April 1, 2025. Metro fares have recently jumped by up to 71 percent, and BMTC bus fares by 15 percent.

Carpooling platforms like QuickRide, QuicReach, GoPool, and BlaBlaCar are now seeing an opportunity to expand. QuickRide, for instance, is mainly focusing on intra-city carpooling for office-goers. Two other platforms — GoPool and QuicReach — are using yellow-board commercial vehicles to service their user base.

GoPool caters to airport commuters, while QuicReach serves airport routes as well as popular destinations like Mysuru and Nandi Hills. Paris-based BlaBlaCar, on the other hand, focusses on inter-city carpooling.

Per  Motor Vehicles Rules, white-board vehicles are meant for private use, while yellow-board vehicles are hired to transport goods or passengers.

In 2023, the Karnataka government clarified that carpooling is not banned in Bengaluru, provided it is not used for profit. The transport department had announced plans to introduce a policy for carpooling, which is yet to be unveiled. Meanwhile, cab driver unions continue to oppose carpooling, claiming it threatens their livelihood.

Also, read: No ban on carpooling in Bengaluru, clarifies govt

QuickRide sees opportunity in rising costs

QuickRide Founder and CEO KNM Rao told Moneycontrol that the rising cost of commuting could push more people towards carpooling, which is economical, reduces traffic congestion, emissions, and fuel consumption,  and also results in forex savings.

“Before Covid, there were around 60,000 carpools daily in Bengaluru; now it’s about 20,000. The drop was mainly due to the controversy around carpooling in 2023 (social media posts claimed Karnataka had banned carpooling in Bengaluru, with fines up to ₹10,000). We want authorities to install permanent signboards promoting carpooling to help raise awareness,” he said.

Also, read: MC Explainer: What is the controversy surrounding carpooling in Bengaluru?

“Users are verified via official email IDs and can choose carpools based on company or gender. The app automates the process in real time for better matching,” Rao explained, and added that carpooling costs just Rs 4 per km. “If a someone commutes 20 km daily, they can offer rides once and carpool the rest of the week, cutting their expenses by up to 80 percent.”

GoPool focuses on airport travel

GoPool connects travellers going to or from airports, allowing them to share cabs and split costs. “People use GoPool to share airport rides,” said the firm's Founder, Akash Jadhav. “Users save up to 50 percent per trip, with average savings of Rs 750.”

Jadhav said the platform allows users to view and connect with verified co-travellers in advance, making the experience more comfortable and secure. “Unlike other platforms, GoPool lets users choose their co-riders. It’s taxi provider-agnostic—passengers decide which cab to book, often opting for the safest option.”

Also, read: Meet the startup that turns airport rides into cheap Ola-Uber carpools

GoPool does not operate its own cabs or take a commission from drivers. “Our aim is simple: to reduce airport travel costs and the number of cabs on the road,” he added. The app has crossed 30,000 users.

QuicReach for long-distance carpooling

Bengaluru-based startup QuicReach offers pre-scheduled shared cabs for long-distance travel (25–350 km), and focusses on both airport and intercity travel. “We’re not just connecting users like typical carpool apps — we manage the entire ride experience,” said Founder Shubham Jain.

QuicReach is popular for trips to Bengaluru airport, Mysuru, Nandi Hills, and the Adiyogi Shiva statue in Chikkaballapur. The company claims to have completed over 15,000 rides in one year. “We’ve helped users save Rs 40 lakh and avoided 5,000 solo cab trips,” Jain said.

Fares are fixed and free from surge pricing. “An airport ride that typically costs Rs 1,100-1,500 is just Rs 500–550 with QuicReach. Passengers save money, and drivers earn 30–40 percent more,” Jain said.

The startup offers verified drivers, live tracking, SOS features, and plans to launch women-only cabs and install dash cams. “Shared cabs are safer than solo rides—there’s always someone with you,” he said. Currently operating 2,000 rides a month, QuicReach aims to grow tenfold and expand to cities like Chennai, Tirupati, and Coimbatore.

Also, read: Traffic cops propose carpooling, shuttle buses to ease congestion on Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road

BlaBlaCar sees inter-city growth

BlaBlaCar is seeing strong traction on inter-city routes in India, with an average trip distance around 250 km. “Our platform is primarily designed for long-distance travel, and that’s where we’re seeing the maximum demand,” the company said in a statement to Moneycontrol.

Between 2023 and 2024, BlaBlaCar doubled its passenger base in India, surpassing 10 million users. In Bengaluru alone, it served around 60,000 passengers in a month, peaking at 70,000 in March 2025.

To enhance safety, the platform uses identity verification, mutual ratings, and active moderation. ‘Women only’ trips allow female users to travel exclusively with other women.

“Unlike commercial ride-hailing services, BlaBlaCar follows a non-profit, cost-sharing model. We regulate fares to ensure compliance with legal definitions of carpooling,” the company added.

Also, read: Ola Consumer restarts car-pooling service after 4 years