Hyderabad: City cabs look all set to overtake traditional auto-rickshaws in both consumer preference and satisfaction.
Most passengers favour the option of a more planned and monitored commute and cab firms are increasingly offering attra-ctive fares, loyalty benefits and also enhanced security features — including giving out details of the driver before the trip commences.
Such “best practices” are convincing commuters to slowly shift to cabs, instead of autorickshaws. What’s of note is the fact that cab services were virtually non-existent just a few years ago. Among the most popular ones, which have made inroads into the city, are Ola Cabs, Taxi for Sure, Yellow Cabs and these are besides Meru, SkyCabs and Green Cabs, which are preferred for long-distance journeys.
All cab operators are giving out passengers complete details of their ride as well as details of drivers and are now even GPS co-ordinated. Many have introduced security features such as a panic button on the accompanying mobile apps that can send automated alert messages to key contacts.
“It’s not just the security features. Passengers feel safer with cabs because drivers have been trained to be polite with a customer, unlike autorickshaw drivers who are extremely rude. There is a tracking of driver behaviour done by companies. They ask for customer feedback and take complaints very seriously. Moreover, if a customer has any doubts about the end fare, he/she can talk to the call centre as the fares are calculated by the call centre,” said Moin, a driver who has registered with two cab companies in the city.
Moreover, cabs do not charge to pick customers up from a particular location. Charges are applicable only from the start point. Unlike autos, cab drivers do not refuse to go on particular routes as well. Also off peak-hour charges are lesser for cabs.
“I have been travelling extensively in cabs for the past two years and I have mobile apps of three different cab companies. I find the cabs more convenient for not only long journeys, but also smaller distances as it picks you up directly from the location you want. I can book it in advance and plan the journey, travel comfortably in air-conditioned vehicles at cheaper rates. By my personal experience, cabs are cheaper by 10 to 20 per cent, if taken on a regular basis,” said Srilekha G., a homemaker.
There’s also no arguing or fighting over ‘surprise fares’. “I do not want to go back to being an autorickshaw passenger ever again. Auto follow no rules and more often than not, they demand more than the fare that was agreed upon at the start of the trip. Being a regular cab customer brings in its own benefits such as free rides, free meals etc. I have also been using cabs for 70 per cent of my travel requirements. Suppose I want to go to a local market, cabs are more convenient than my own vehicle too as I do not have to bother with parking or parking charges, says another cab customer, Pooja Bansal.
