V-Link launches Meru metered world class radio taxi services in city

Mumbai, Mar 29 (UNI) V-Link, leading fleet management company has launched 'Meru', world-class metered radio taxi service in Mumbai.

Value Fund, a premier Private Equity fund with a diverse set of investments in India like Biocon, Trinethra, Radio City has recently taken a stake in V Link and is providing management support besides requisite equity infusion.

IVF has been instrumental in building several valuable businesses in the past.

Company MD Neeraj Gupta told mediapersons here today ''V-Link plans to initially launch 150 taxis and shall increase to 1,000 by year end and plans to manage a fleet of at least 10,000 cabs across major metros of the country in the next three to five years.'' The Company plans to first launch its operations in Mumbai, and subsequently in Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. The initial platform to deliver the Meru service will be through the Maruti Esteem vehicle.

He said ''We are in a unique position to use our significant fleet management experience to set up the radio taxi business and have engaged the best-in-class service providers to build the delivery elements for this project. We strongly feel that a city like Mumbai needs a significant upgrade in terms of infrastructure and along with the government of Maharashtra, we are helping Mumbai to introduce a cab service that would be modelled on the best cab services in major cities like Singapore and London.'' He added ''V-Link has satisfied the criteria laid down by the government of Maharashtra and is one of the players selected by the government as an operator of radio taxis in Mumbai. Services like Dial-a-Meru, SMS-a-Meru and Meru-on-the-Net will also be available shortly. Through this project, V-Link hopes to upgrade the quality of urban transportation in Mumbai and also contribute in a small way to uplift the community of drivers who will be engaged in these operations.'' UNI AR KU AG1939