Mangaluru : Ola, a mobile app transport aggregator, on Friday launched its services in Mangaluru offering 125 cabs at present. The services can be booked through Ola mobile app or by calling 0824-3355335. It intends to take the car numbers to 500 in about six months.

Offering fares cheaper to conventional taxi operators, Ola provides services like city taxis for shorter journeys in and around Mangaluru. While the minimum fare for first 2 km is Rs. 49, the per km fare thereafter is Rs. 12 for mini cars and Rs. 14 for sedan cars. Instant receipt is generated on completion of the trip and there is no scope for bargain.

The services are convenient, cost effective and safe for customers, claimed Ola’s head of operations for Mangaluru N. Sadhanandhan. He told presspersons at the launch ceremony here that all the cabs are equipped with GPS so as to track their movement real-time and communicate the same to customer. Ola strictly verifies all records and certificates of drivers besides getting their police verification done at regular intervals.

A customer can share his/her trip details with close friends/family members so that they could be tracked through mobile app real-time. To enhance the safety feature, Ola has recently introduced SOS button on Ola app, by the press of which emergency message is sent to the emergency contact number and mail id, Mr. Sadhanandhan said.

Ola’s app for drivers helps them to get bookings closer to their location to reduce dry runs and optimise revenue collection. The driver has the freedom to sign off to attend his personal work; there is no fixed hours of working, he said.

*Ola cabs can be booked through Ola app or calling 0824-3355335

*Fares: Rs. 49 minimum for the first 2 km and Rs. 12 a km thereafter for Ola Mini and Rs. 14 a km thereafter for Ola Sedan

*Customers have option to prepay the trip by recharging the Ola Money wallet on the app once they sign in

*Safety is ensured with GPS tracking of the vehicle, sharing trip details online with family members and SOS button on Ola app

*Ola claims to undertake continuous drivers’ verification and training