Pune: Operations of cabs registered under Bharat Taxi have begun at Pune airport in a controlled manner, with the driver-owned ride-hailing platform preparing to establish a dedicated kiosk and supporting infrastructure at the AeroMall within the next two months.A key advantage of the service for commuters is the absence of surge pricing, which has long been a concern for airport passengers who face steep fares during periods of high demand.Mohit Mitra, city head of Bharat Taxi, said the platform has not yet established a kiosk at the airport, but discussions with AeroMall officials are underway.“Talks have taken place with AeroMall officials and they are ready to provide us space. However, we need to develop infrastructure for proper airport operations, including technical support. This is being worked on and we are positive that the kiosk and infrastructure will be ready within two months,” Mitra said.At present, Uber, Ola and Rapido operate from the airport, along with aggregators such as Cab-e and Meru. Pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw services are also available from the AeroMall. “Passengers booking a Bharat Taxi from the AeroMall will currently be picked up from the bays designated for other app-based cab operators,” the official said.Bharat Taxi was launched in Pune earlier this month and, according to Mitra, has about 42,000 drivers using the platform, including 19,000 autorickshaw drivers.Regular flyer and Kalyaninagar resident Vimal Jain said the service would have to address problems commuters face with existing operators. “Launching another cab service is not a problem as there are already many operators in Pune. The real issues are refusals, drivers asking for more money, giving excuses, refusing short-distance trips and frequent surge pricing. If Bharat Taxi can solve these problems, commuters will benefit,” Jain said.He said greater awareness of the service was needed, as many passengers were still unaware that Bharat Taxi had started operations in Pune.Y S Rajput, vice-president of AeroMall, said the facility had no objection to Bharat Taxi starting operations. “They have approached us regarding space and we have given them a positive response. Whenever they are ready, they can establish their infrastructure at the AeroMall and begin operations,” Rajput said.In Feb, the Airports Authority of India signed an MoU with Bharat Taxi, India’s first driver-owned cooperative ride-hailing platform, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, to facilitate its operations at major airports, including Pune.Under Bharat Taxi, a small car such as a WagonR is charged at Rs 24 per km, while a sedan costs Rs 25 per km. Priority cabs are available at Rs 26.50 per km and SUVs at Rs 31 per km. Autorickshaws are priced at Rs 18 per km. Mitra said surge pricing would generally not apply, except in extreme situations such as very heavy rainfall.Frequent flyer and IT professional Sumit Dixit said the platform could succeed if drivers maintained transparent fares and treated customers fairly. “Pune commuters are harassed by autorickshaw drivers and cabbies trying to overcharge them. Authorities must ensure that Bharat Taxi does not end up facing the same problems as existing operators,” said Dixit, a Baner resident.
