Uber launches auto-rickshaw service in Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 9: US-based taxi-hailing app Uber on Thursday launched an aggregator service which will help commuters book auto-rickshaws for travelling in the national capital.

"Autos are the most ubiquitous transport in almost any city and Indians are used to having autos around. It simply makes more sense for the auto driver and commuter to connect via our platform and use the advantage of new technologies," Uber's Delhi GM Gagan Bhatia told PTI.

However, unlike its taxi-service, customers will have to pay the fare in cash for the auto-rickshaw service.

Last year, Bangalore-based Ola had launched a similar service in the national capital. Bhatia said the company's vision is to bring the Uber experience to more people and "uberAUTO is another step in this direction."

The company said the pricing will be based on the fare rules set out by Delhi state authorities and Uber will not charge any fee for the service.

The company has been in headlines since December 2014, after one of its driver allegedly raped a passenger in the city.

Soon after that, the government blocked its services in the city, however, the company did not suspend its operations.

The government is now mulling to block its app services and has already asked Department of Electronics and Information Technology about the same.

PTI