Calcutta: City-based start-up TYGR, a technology-based transport solution company, has launched its app cab services in Bangalore.
The service, called Namma TYGR, promises not to have surge pricing and will charge "only half of what competitors charge as commission on each ride from the drivers" in a bid to offer competitive pricing to riders and lure drivers on its platform.
"We will not have surge pricing on our platform. Surge pricing is a big issue in Bangalore and we have addressed it on our platform," said Dipanjan Purkayastha, who co-founded TYGR along with Aditya Poddar.
Namma TYGR - launched on November 29 - will charge only 12 per cent as commission on each ride from drivers when the competition charges 30 per cent. "And instead of doling out subsidies to drivers, we are going to give them value-added services such as health insurance for the driver and his family, life insurance for the driver and accident coverage. We will also pay his road tax, service his car and pay for car washes. We will also subsidise his children's study books," said Dipanjan.
All these benefits, he feels, will create a strong loyalty to the platform.
Since the time of the launch, Namma TYGR has 12,000 listed drivers on its platforms. "We are getting 25,000 ride requests a day and we are able to service 10 per cent of them," said Purakayastha.
He aims to have 20,000 vehicles on his platform by the month-end and service 10,000 rides a day.
Bangalore is one of the largest markets for app cabs with 100,000 such vehicles in the city. Each cab does at least 10 rides a day, said Dipanjan. Namma TYGR wants to create its space by offering what Dipanjan said the competitors had failed to ensure - safe and affordable rides for passengers and a decent earning for drivers.
"We will comply with every government regulation. We will not have a single driver on the platform without verification," said Dipanjan.
"We will also have on-road assistance with four of our cars plying the streets of Bangalore to attend emergency calls from passengers or drivers," said Dipanjan.
The launch of Namma TYGR was attended by former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda and former chief minister of the state H.D. Kumaraswamy.
