Delhi Govt. To Launch App-Based Bus Service; Relaunches Car Pooling App Poochh-O For #OddEven Period
Delhi Govt. has decided to take the matter of crumbling public transport heads-on. In a first of its kind initiative, Delhi Govt. will launch their own app-based bus service; besides relaunching their car-pooling app Poochh-O for helping commuters during the odd-even period.
It is said that Necessity is the Mother of all Inventions; and Delhi Govt’s decision to launch these services is a perfect example of the same.
App Based Bus Service
Delhi CM and Cabinet has approved Delhi Transport Ministry’s decision to launch an app based bus service for all commuters. As per the reports, this service would be launched on June 1st.
Gopal Rai, Delhi Transport Minister said, “The decision was approved by the cabinet Friday, and the registration of private buses under the scheme will start on June 1. The government will come up with a similar aggregator scheme for taxis,”
In order to provide better services, these buses would be mandated to have CCTV cameras, WiFi, GPS, fire-extinguishers and first-aid kits will be mandatory. The USP of this unique bus service would be the fact that 5 minutes prior to departure, the list of passengers would be frozen. Hence, no out of the schedule passengers would be allowed.
Bookings can be only made via app.
Minister Rai further said, “These buses will not turn into Blueline buses because they would compete to pick up passengers on the streets. These buses will accept only app-based bookings, and there will be no standing passengers,”
Car Pooling App Poochh-O Relaunched
After odd-even diktat was reinforced effective April 15th, Delhi Govt. has decided to relaunch their own car pooling app called Poochh-O. This app was earlier launched in December last year, when Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi Govt. decided to first introduce odd-even rule.
When fired, this app will suggest only those car-pooling option which have odd numbered cars for odd days, and even numbered cars for even days.
Besides, there is another option to choose the gender of your companions, so that women feel insecure. Even the RWA (Resident Welfare Associations) would be informed about the departure and arrival of its members, who use this app.
Developed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd. (DIMTS), which is a JV between Delhi Govt. and IDFC Foundation, Poochh-O has 2500 users till now, with 1700 are car-owners.
Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal had banned all surge pricing on app based taxi bookings app like Uber and Ola; which was criticized as free market model was being encroached by the Govt. It would be interesting to observe how Delhi Govt. manages these apps, and services; and whether it can compete with existing players of this niche.
You can download the app here.
