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Ride-sharing company Uber announces partnership with Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited to offer first and last mile connectivity to passengers. In the first phase, Uber will set up kiosks at 24 metro stations to provide reliable connectivity options and later extend it to all stations.
Barney Harford, COO, Uber said, “Our goal around the world is to integrate ride-sharing with transit to ensure seamless commutes. By making it easy to get to and from metro stations, we are reducing the need for private car ownership and making infrastructure accessible to the citizens of Hyderabad.”
N V S Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited said, “HMRL has always kept the interest of its commuters at the centre of its functioning. It is important to connect more parts of the city, that will eventually help them save time and money. Through this partnership, we are looking forward to encouraging more and more people to use mass transportation that will effectively connect different points of the city.”
“The Hyderabad metro has shown to the world how a public, private partnership (PPP) mode project, which entails an investment of over $ 3 billion, could be executed. Now where in the world has such a public transport project been attempted on the PPP mode,” he said.
Through this partnership, metro commuters can enjoy the ease of booking an Uber ride across all active stations in Hyderabad. Uber will work closely with HMRL to enable seamless last-mile connectivity for riders as the Hyderabad metro launches additional lines and stations in their subsequent phases of metro development.
Jayesh Ranjan, IT Secretary, Telangana, said, “Uber centre of excellence has grown from a modest 350 people to over 2600 people in Hyderabad and this augurs well for the State. We are looking at further engagements with Uber.”
Driver-partner protests
Few Uber drivers gatecrashed the press conference shouting slogans, “We want justice.” They contended that their engagement with Uber was not profitable and surging fuel prices were adding to their woes.
Uber said, “Driver earnings across India are largely sustainable and consistent over the last several months. While earnings is not one size, fits all and varies by the time and trips individual driver partners take on Uber. Over 80 per cent of drivers who are online for eight hours a day continue to make between Rs 1500 to Rs 2500 net after deducting Uber's 20 per cent service fee.”
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