Uber launches a bus service for office-goers in Kolkata; View the times and facilities here
Like taxis, passengers can reserve seats for Uber Shuttle up to a week in advance, track live location and route, and receive real-time estimated time of arrival (ETA) through the Uber app.
Calcutta: Ride-hailing app Uber on Wednesday announced that it will launch a bus service in Kolkata for office-goers from this month. It says the service will start with 10 buses and by March next year, Uber Shuttle will have 60 air-conditioned buses on predefined routes, connecting business and residential areas of the city.
Uber will invest $10 million in the state by 2025 and create about 50,000 livelihood opportunities over the next five years, the company said in a statement. For the bus service, Uber signed an agreement with the state transport department during the Bengal Global Business Summit.
Uber launches bus service: important details
- Like taxis, passengers can reserve seats for Uber Shuttle up to a week in advance
- Passengers can follow live location and route
- They can receive the estimated time of arrival (ETA) in real time via the Uber app.
- Uber Shuttle provides commuters with a seamless and convenient travel experience
- The service offers cash payment options, 24-hour security support and a comfortable ride with air-conditioned buses running daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Speaking to PTI, Uber India & South Asia Operations Director Shiva Shailendran said, “Uber plans to launch its shuttle service in Kolkata this month with an initial fleet of 10 buses and increase the size and frequency and add more routes to add. after a while.”
“We have started shuttle service in a few cities including Delhi and Mumbai… Passengers can pre-book seats in these buses for specific routes,” he added. Each shuttle vehicle has a capacity of 19 to 50 people. The buses will be operated by local fleet partners using Uber’s technology, Shailendran said.
“This unique partnership will bring the convenience and reliability of Uber rides to buses and contribute to our global sustainability goal of increasing vehicle occupancy, reducing traffic congestion and lowering carbon emissions,” he said.
“By providing commuters with more transportation choices and creating livelihood opportunities for drivers, we are confident that this initiative will set us on a path of collective success,” he added.
State Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan said West Bengal is committed to improving public transport services and expanding the options available to make commuting hassle-free.
Our partnership with Uber is another step in this direction, he said.
Snap-E Cabs, which has also signed an agreement with the state government, said it will invest around Rs 325 crore in electric vehicles in the state by March 2024. “The company plans to invest Rs 2,825 crore in West Bengal by 2025 for providing -friendly and e-mobility options,” said an official of the ride-hailing app.