Radio cab service, Meru, on Monday, announced a partnership with the air-conditioned ‘no refusal’ taxis of Kolkata. Bookings to avail of these cabs will be through the Meru cabs app (application).
‘No refusal’ taxis that are coloured blue-and-white, are a different set of cabs that ply in the city apart from the regular ‘black-and-yellow’ ones. No refusal cabs are mostly sedans. They follow fares laid down by the State Transport department.
Incidentally, taxis that will partner with Meru, will continue to follow state regulated fares – i.e. meter displayed fares if AC services are not availed, and 25 per cent extra if AC is availed.
Customers who book through Meru will be charged a nominal convenience fee of Rs 20 over the fare displayed on the meter.
Meru, according to a release issued by them, claimed that it will act as a booking facilitator for the local taxi segment through this partnership.
Under this partnership, the company will provide air-conditioned city taxis (called no refusal cabs) access to its technology.
Customers who book these no refusal taxis will have access to various features such as trip tracker’ and ‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) that are normally available when cabs are booked through Meru.
Driver training programmes – where knowledge on customer service and etiquettes and use of technology – will also be taken by the radio cab service provider.
Meru has recently entered into a global alliance with Europe-based eCabs to provide access to taxi services across seven countries as well as commenced car pool services in India.