KERALA SAVARI

Context

Key Points

• Operated by the Motor Workers Welfare Board under the aegis of the Labour Department.
• The Kerala Savari ensures safe travel for the public at government-approved fares without any surge pricing.
• The Kerala Savari app would be made available to the public on online platforms shortly as it is under the scrutiny of Google now.

Reasons to launch this initiative

• The alleged unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights by private app-based cab aggregators have come as a major concern for governments.
• Recently, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to cab aggregators Ola and Uber for unfair trade practices and violation of Consumer Rights.

• It is against this backdrop that the Kerala Government has decided to come up with an app-based platform to offer auto-taxi services to the public.
• As private companies are purely focusing on profit making, the government-controlled online taxi service is a service-oriented scheme a win-win situation for both passengers and taxi-auto drivers and owners.

Attractions

• Private cab aggregators used to make a killing with surge pricing during peak hours or in the event of rains.
• The passengers were often forced to pay through their nose during these critical times.
• But there will be no fluctuation in fares on Kerala Savari irrespective of day or night or rain.
• When private app-based taxi companies increase the charges for services up to two to three times during emergencies, neither passengers nor workers benefit from it.
• But Kerala Savari only charges an 8 per cent service charge in addition to the rate set by the government, whereas the private cab aggregators charge up to 20 to 30 per cent service charge.

Fare Charges 

• The taxi owner will get the approved fare on "Kerala Savari," while cab owners working for private online companies would often get a fare which is below the government-approved rate.
• Furthermore, of the 8 per cent service charge collected from passengers 6 per cent will go to the technical partner and the remaining 2 per cent will go to the implementation of this scheme and for providing promotional incentives to passengers and drivers.

• In the case of online private cab aggregators, the car owner used to get below the rate of ₹100 although he covered a distance fixed for the same fare band.
• In addition, they would charge more than 20 per cent service charge.

Security related features 

• One of the major issues that arise with app-based taxi services is the security of passengers.
• Kerala Savari is claimed as a safe and reliable online service for women, children and senior citizens.
• This consideration has been given importance in app designing and driver registration.
• A police clearance certificate is mandatory for drivers joining the scheme apart from the required proper training.

Panic Button System

• A panic button system has been introduced in the app.
• This button can be pressed in the event of a car accident or cases of any other danger.
• One can do it completely privately. 
• If the driver presses the panic button the passenger will not be alarmed and the same goes for when the passenger presses the panic button.
• When one presses the button, there is an option to select the Police, Fire Force and Motor Vehicle Department numbers.
• If you are in such a dangerous situation that you cannot select any option, press the button for a few seconds and you will be directly connected to the police control room.
• It has also been decided to install GPS in Vehicles at a subsidised rate. This will be implemented in a phased manner.

24- hour Call Centre

• A 24-hour call centre has been prepared for this purpose.
• A state-of-the-art call centre is functioning at the district office of the Motor Workers Welfare Board.
• The call centre works in such a way that all service-related issues can be resolved immediately.

Will it end the monopoly of private cab aggregators?

• Kerala has over five lakh autorickshaws and one lakh cabs.
• The State government plans to bring all auto-taxi workers engaged in the sector under the new platform.
• Since smartphone literacy is high in Kerala, the State is hopeful of bringing them under the scheme in a short period.

• After the evaluation of the first phase of the project in Thiruvanathapuram, it will be extended to the entire State in a Phased manner.
• Kerala Savari is expected to reach Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur municipal limits within a month.