After Namma Yatri, Bengaluru gets another union-backed auto rickshaw app

Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath (Karnataka State Driver's Council), along with Agnibhu Technologies, has decided to unveil Nagara Metered Auto, which will be available on the Google Play Store.

Buoyed by the success of Namma Yatri, another transport union in Bengaluru is launching an auto-rickshaw app.

Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath (Karnataka State Driver's Council) along with Agnibhu Technologies will launch the 'Nagara Metered Auto' driver app (only for drivers) on June 10 afternoon and it will be available on the Google Play Store.

Passengers do not need to download an app to book a ride. They will be able to book through its website (nagaraa.com), by scanning driver's QR code, via WhatsApp (number to be announced soon), and through several ONDC buyer applications in the future.

According to the union, users need to pay only government-fixed fares — Rs 30 for the first two km and Rs 15 for every subsequent km — as displayed on the meter.

Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath's K Somashekar told Moneycontrol that Nagara Metered Auto would serve as an alternative to Ola, Uber and Rapido.

“This new app will be a win-win situation for both passengers and drivers. In many cases, drivers don’t receive the correct fare even if a longer distance is covered. Now, most people prefer to book autos through digital mode,” he said.

The union has been fighting against bike taxis and the steep commission charged by these aggregators.

Also read: Spotlight on zero-commission models after Namma Yatri, auto union break tie-up

There will be no surge pricing or commission but drivers may need to pay a small subscription fee, Somashekar said, adding they plan to enroll at least 1,000 drivers in the first phase. "Only auto rickshaws with calibrated meters certified by the state legal metrology department will be allowed." he adds.

Also, read: Karnataka HC dismisses Ola, Uber petitions against 5% service-charge cap on app-based autorickshaws

"Drivers can fulfil passenger requests made through multiple channels like — on the street, website, WhatsApp and eventually through several ONDC buyer applications," a spokesperson for Agnibhu Technologies said.

It allows the driver to initiate a ride on their own for street-hailing passengers through the unique driver QR code. The app provides every driver with a unique webpage to share their credentials with customers.

The driver will receive pick-up and destination location through the app for digitally hailed trips. The driver will start the fare meter only after entering the passenger OTP and directly collect the fare, the spokesperson said.

How it works?

Commuters need to book the ride through through its website (nagaraa.com) or by scanning driver's QR code. When a driver accepts the ride, the commuter will share the OTP with the driver. The driver will switch on the auto meter at the start of the trip and follow the map on the driver's app.

At the end of the trip, the driver would enter the distance travelled on the app and the passenger would pay the fare shown on the meter, calibrated by the legal metrology department, directly to the driver in cash or through UPI.

For street hailing, passengers can scan a driver’s QR code to book a ride.

Also, read: Namma Yatri mends partnership with Bengaluru autorickshaw drivers union

Also-ran 

This is not the first time that transport unions in Bengaluru have launched an app to compete with Ola and Uber.

In November 2022, the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), led by general secretary D Rudramurthy and his team, collaborated with Juspay to launch the Namma Yatri app, promising an alternative to Ola and Uber, which they accused of charging around 30-40 percent commission. ARDU was involved in the launch of Namma Yatri, creating awareness, mobilising drivers, etc.

Bengaluru’s Peace Auto Union along with a mobility firm launched an app named Rook in 2022 but it is no longer functional.

In September 2023, Rudramurthy-led ARDU launched MetroMitra, an initiative of auto-rickshaw drivers in collaboration with Agnibhu Technologies, LatLong, and GiZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) for last-mile connectivity from Metro stations but it didn’t scale up.

Also, read: Bengaluru auto drivers unveil MetroMitra for last mile connectivity; ops to commence next week

After falling apart in 2023, Juspay patched up with ARDU this year, onboarding Rudramurthy and others as "community enablers". In 2017, Janata Dal (Secular)-backed cab aggregator Namma TYGR was launched but it failed to take off.