Global ride-hailing major Uber on Tuesday rolled out India's first-of-its-kind ride sharing insurance programme that is expected to provide protection to its nearly 4.5 lakh driver-partners across the country.

The accident insurance cover has been rolled out in partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, the largest private sector non-life insurer in the country. It came on a day marking the fourth anniversary of Uber's journey in India.

This insurance policy provides driver-partners free coverage for accidental death and disablement, hospitalisation, and outpatient medical treatment in case of an accident while online on the Uber App and will be available for trip requests, en route or on a trip with Uber.

Pradeep Parameswaran, Head of Central Operations, India, Uber, said a driver-partner would be covered for Rs 5 lakh for accidental death; up to Rs 5 lakh for permanent disability; up to Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation with a sub-limit of Rs 50,000 for outpatient treatment.

"This initiative will provide a safety net for our driver-partners, who keep our cities moving. This is just the beginning, we will continue to engage with our driver-partners and work towards making driving for Uber not just the most attractive opportunity but also the most preferred choice," Parameswaran said.

He said this partnership and other innovations are a reflection of Uber's commitment to listen, act and enable "our drivers to experience the ' apnapan ' while driving for Uber".

Cover under this programme will go live as of September 1, 2017.

Commenting on the latest Uber initiative, Bhargav Dasgupta, Managing Director & CEO, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, said the general insurer was excited to partner with Uber India and introduce this unique insurance proposition for its driver-partners.

Uber offers this type of cover elsewhere in Asia, including in Myanmar and Indonesia, but it does not do so in most countries or in the US. India is the largest market in which it has rolled it out so far, according to Parameswaran.

Srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in

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