Namma Yatri launches cab services in Bengaluru, onboards 25,000 drivers

Its entry into cab service, which is dominated by Ola and Uber, is likely to be a relief for drivers, who are upset over declining incentives and earnings.

Namma Yatri, a zero-commission auto-hailing app, on April 16 announced its foray into cab services in Bengaluru, onboarding over 25,000 drivers on its platform.

"This strategic shift not only enhances driver income but also fosters improved vehicle maintenance and elevated customer experiences... We have now onboarded around 25,000 drivers and will likely onboard one lakh drivers in the next six months," said Namma Yatri CEO Magizhan Selvan.

The platform offers Non-AC Mini, AC Mini, Sedan, and XL cabs.

Following the Bengaluru launch, Namma Yatri plans to expand its cab services to include inter-city travel, rentals, and scheduled rides. The service will also be available across Karnataka. Additionally, the company will accommodate special requests such as disability-friendly rides, extra luggage space, pet travel, and trips to public transport hubs.

"We are very happy that Namma Yatri are scaling to cabs after a very successful launch of auto services and we want to scale to other cities and to other countries as well, " JusPay cofounder Vimal Kumar said.

Moneycontrol on April 12 reported that Namma Yatri  is piloting taxi services in Bengaluru.

Its entry into cab service, which is dominated by Ola and Uber, is likely to be a relief for drivers, who are upset over declining incentives and earnings.

Fintech firm Juspay, in collaboration with Nandan Nilekani's BECKN Foundation and supported by Bengaluru's Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU), launched the Namma Yatri app in November 2022. This app promises to be an alternative to Ola and Uber, which charges 30-40 percent commission.

Recently, the firm spun off the mobility business into a separate firm called Moving Tech Innovations Limited.

To simplify commutes, the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) linked Namma Yatri to its platform.

Namma Yatri was initially launched in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumkur, and Kochi under the name Yatri app. In Kolkata, it was launched as Yatri Saathi. The company recently expanded to Chennai.

The company has adopted a subscription model where drivers pay a monthly or per-ride fee to use the platform. Cabs are currently in the initial launch phase, so using the app is free for cab drivers.

"We have currently kept it free for drivers, once we see more adoption, we will look at putting the same model here," Selvan said.