Namma Yatri Expands Ride-Hailing Services To Six More Karnataka Cities

Namma Yatri, the popular ride-hailing service in Bengaluru, is expanding its operations to six more cities in Karnataka. The company, owned by fintech firm Juspay, plans to introduce autorickshaw rides in Mangaluru, Udupi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi by the end of the year. This move comes as part of Namma Yatri's strategy to grow its ride-hailing business beyond Bengaluru.

Since its launch in November 2022, Namma Yatri has gained significant traction in Bengaluru, facilitating around 1.1 lakh rides and capturing a 25 percent market share. The service, developed under the Union government's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, is known for its zero commission for drivers and fair pricing for passengers.

While Namma Yatri has expanded to cities across India, including Mysuru and Tumakuru in Karnataka, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, and Delhi, its success outside Bengaluru has been more limited, with a total of 1.3 lakh rides facilitated nationwide.

In Bengaluru, Namma Yatri has worked closely with the Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU), representing 32,000 drivers. Despite initially maintaining a "union-agnostic" stance, the company later onboarded key figures from ARDU as "community enablers," including D. Rudramurthy and P. L. Pattabhiram. Currently, the company has four community enablers, with plans to expand this network to other cities.

Recently, Namma Yatri launched its cab services in Bengaluru, offering both AC and non-AC cab options. Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy inaugurated the services, praising Namma Yatri's community-centric approach and driver welfare efforts.

Namma Yatri operates within the ONDC network, offering 100 percent open data and open-source code. It also adheres to the latest pricing guidelines set by the Karnataka Government, ensuring fair pricing practices for customers and drivers.

The app will soon introduce inter-city, rentals, scheduled rides, and accommodate special requests like disability-friendly rides and extra luggage. Namma Yatri aims to onboard over 1 lakh drivers in the next six months, further expanding its services across Karnataka.