Indiantelevision.com Team

(20 March 2008 6:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: Mumbai-based radio taxi service provider V-Link Taxis Pvt Ltd has launched "Meru," a radio taxi service in Delhi and the NCR.

The company will initially deploy 250 cabs and intends to start commercial business from Monday.

The fleet is expected to reach 1,000 early next year and by the time the Commonwealth Games comes to Delhi, they hope to have 2,000 cabs.

"We are currently launching with white Maruti Esteems but since the model is not in production anymore, the additions to our fleet will be some other sedan, maybe a Mahindra Renault Logan," said V Link regional head CB Singh.

"We focus on retail customers for this service. The fares are reasonably priced at Rs 15, and a customer will be picked up and dropped even if the distance is small. Our policy is to never say no to any customer," assured Singh.

"With the Commonwealth Games a couple of years away, the need to build a good transport system in Delhi was really important and Meru answers that call. Our taxis will be fitted with a GPS/GPRS device that will allow us to locate taxis and deploy it efficiently," said India Value Fund VP Prateek Roongta.

The GPS hardware has been imported from Italy while the software has been developed in Singapore. GPS services will be provided by Airtel and Vodafone.

The cabs will have added features such as an emergency panic button, one for the driver and the other for the commuter.

The driver's income is based on subscription, wherin he will have to pay to the company at the end of every month. The amount that has been fixed upon is Rs 600 per day.

"If the driver is not able to raise the amount payable, we assure he takes home a minimum pay," said Roongta.

A 25-seater call centre will be available to address the customers' needs 24x7. Customers will also be able to book a taxi via SMS and/or through the company's website.

In order to reach out to the people regarding the service, the company will use radio, print and outdoor advertisement.