Uber partners with Bengaluru Metro Rail for last-mile connectivity

While cab aggregators Ola and Uber might still be fighting a battle with the Karnataka government on ride sharing, Uber is nevertheless aggressively pushing into the state. Today, in its blog, the company announced that it has partnered with the Bengaluru metro service.

Their blog stated that, from April 2017, commuters can find Uber booking kiosks at all of the below Namma Metro stations–

• Kempegowda Majestic Station
• Baiyyapanahalli
• Mysore Road
• Indiranagar
• Vijayanagar
• G. Road
• Mantri Mall station
• Orion Mall (Sandal soap factory)
• M. Visweswaraiyya Central College
• Jalahalli
• Dasarahalli
• Hosahalli

The blog post said:

“While the Bangalore Metro helps cover long distances in a short time, for most Bangalorians, getting to a destination from the station, be it their home or their office, is currently a challenge, which is where Uber comes in as your reliable last-mile ride.

"Today, we are happy to announce our partnership with the BMRCL across twelve key Namma Metro stations, providing last-mile connectivity to everyday commuters.

"In order to make your last-mile ride as seamless as possible, for those who might have trouble accessing data on their phone, or might not have the Uber app, we will have exclusive Uber booking counters at each Namma Metro station mentioned below."

Uber representatives will also be available at the counters to ensure that commuters get a reliable and affordable ride to their next destination with ease.

“For Uber, it’s all about being a part of the fabric of the city. This partnership is a great example of how the public and private transport can work together and complement each other’s strengths to help solve major issues that citizens face, in this case, last-mile connectivity. We look forward to working with BMRCL and giving metro commuters a reliable, efficient and affordable last-mile transportation option, at the push of a button," said Christian Freese, General Manager, Uber Bengaluru.

Uber also launched Uber Hire in India, with Bengaluru being one of the first cities.

Uber has been aggressively launching newer products in India since the beginning of this year. The year began with Uber wooing NITI Ayog’s Amitabh Kant and launching the otherwise banned uberMOTO in Hyderabad. Uber also announced that it will be soon launching UberEATS in India, after having launched this service in global markets. Ola had tried something similar with Ola Café and burnt their fingers.

The year has so far been like a roller-coaster for Ola. It began the year by seeking a level playing field against Uber, saying capital dumping by the aggregator was the real reason behind the perception of better quality. Also, if you look at the UberHIRE prices, they seem relatively cheaper and follow a flat rate system.