Bengaluru: BMRCL is likely to tie up with transport aggregator Rapido to provide auto services to passengers at 20 Metro stations in the city.
BMRCL officials said the Namma Metro operator is working to address the gaps in last-mile connectivity and the harassment passengers face from auto drivers who sometimes refuse rides or ask for exorbitant fares.
At these 20 Metro stations, there will be a dedicated lane for autos registered with Rapido. Once passengers exit the Metro, they can book their ride using the Rapido app. A Rapido executive will be at the station to assist the passengers with the ride. The fare for the rides will be fixed as per govt guidelines, which is Rs 30 for the first 2km and Rs 15 for every next 1km.
A BMRCL official explained that this procedure will help address last-mile connectivity issues. “Once the proposal is finalised and approved, commuters will be able to get hassle-free auto rides to the end mile with the right fare. We are surveying and checking for the availability of space for autos and feasibility in the Metro stations. Once the proposal gets approved, we will announce the stations’ names.”
BMRCL has already tied up with Namma Yatri, providing similar auto services at the Indiranagar Metro station. “The pilot project at Indiranagar is well received by the public, and we are not having any trouble with local auto drivers as they have also registered with Namma Yatri, so I don’t think we will have any problem with local auto drivers at these 20 Metro stations,” added the official.
