BANGALORE:  In a first for the public transportation and digital payments space in the country, Ola (formerly Olacabs), India’s leading mobile app for Intermediary Personal Transportation (IPT), today announced the launch of cashless rides through its in-app Ola money wallet for auto rickshaw bookings from its app across Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Bangalore.

Kaali-Peeli taxi rides in Mumbai that are booked through the Ola app can also be paid for using the wallet. This will be the first payment solution for auto rickshaws and will make the entire auto experience convenient and seamless for customers. Ola had launched auto booking through its app about 6 months back. Over 40,000 autos and kaali-peeli taxis are registered pan-Indian on the Ola app.

Customer benefits

Through the Ola app, customers can book an auto with one touch on their phones without having to haggle for fares/ spend time waiting on the road. Driver details are sent via SMS as well and the location of the auto is traceable in real time. Customers get increased visibility of autos from around them and the nearest auto at their doorstep! With this feature, customers will not have to pay cash to the auto drivers and the fare amount shall be automatically deducted from their Ola Money account. This solves for two primary pain points for users- the need to carry cash and the hassle to find the exact change after the ride!

Pallav Singh, Vice President - Operations at Ola said, “Autos and Kaali-Peelis are the most ubiquitous modes of personal transportation available in our cities today. However, for decades they have been operating without leveraging the benefits of scale and efficiency. By bringing them on the Ola app, we have been able to connect auto drivers and customers with absolute ease, bringing more convenience to users and more income for drivers. With cashless rides for autos and Kaali-Peelis now, the experience for both customers and drivers becomes seamless. We believe digital payments will shape the future of personal transportation in India.”

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