Now, dial an autorickshaw

Ahmedabad will get first-of-its-kind anytime rickshaw (ATR) service on February 26


By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, February 04, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010020420100204024224229a939d277)

Finding an auto in the dead of night to reach the railway station, airport or any other place in the city is going to get as simple — and speedy — as ordering a pizza. A charitable organisation,
Nirmal Foundation, that gave Ahmedabad the innovative G-Auto service has now come up with anytime rickshaw (ATR) concept.

Starting February 26, the day civic officials plan to celebrate the foundation day of the city, you will be able to get an auto on your doorstep by simply making a phone call.

Wondering if such a facility will tax your wallet? Don’t fret. Apart from a service charge, you will have to only pay a fare fixed by the state government.

“We have trained a group of autorickshaw drivers who will be available to people round the clock,” a former student of IIM-A and the foundation’s managing director, Nirmal Kumar, said. “All one needs to do is ring up our call centre on 079-40323334 and tell the operator his/her destination. The operator will then immediately send an auto to the caller’s residence.”

Kumar — who is the brain behind G-Autos, rickshaws with plush interiors, calling facility, newspapers and guides to the city’s landmarks — said that the ATR service was currently being offered to students and staff of IIM-A, NID and CEPT University. “The service is being offered to only these institutes currently because we are still looking at its feasibility,” he said. “However, it will be extended to the entire city from February 26.”

Interestingly, to make the ATR service a success among Amdavadis and people visiting the city, Nirmal Foundation is teaching auto drivers how to communicate in English.

“For the past three months, G-Auto drivers, whom we call G-pilots, are being taught Hindi as well as English, so that they can speak to visitors from other states and abroad,” Kumar said. “We are also training them to be courteous to their passengers.”

The former IIM-A student said that the anytime rickshaw service would appeal to tourists a lot. “Tourists can book a tour of the city on the phone. The tour could even include religious places,” he said. “Each G-pilot will be given tapes containing commentary on city’s landmarks, public places, institutes and historic structures. The driver can play these tapes on passengers’ request.”

Currently, Nirmal Foundation’s call centre has two operators who book auto rides. However, it is planning to add more after ATR service’s launch. “We will rope in more operators and increase the number of rickshaws from the current 15 depending on people’s response,” Kumar said. “We also plan to hire women drivers to cater to female population of the city.”

We have trained a group of auto drivers who will be available to people round the clock. All one needs to do is call. – Nirmal Kumar, the head of Vimal foundation and brain behind ATR service

How will it work
• From February 26, dial 079-40323334 to book a G-Auto
• The operator will take down your address and details of your choice of destination
• He/she will contact the auto driver nearest to your current location and give you an ETA
• The driver will reach your doorstep as quickly as possible no matter what the time is
• Wondering if the service will tax your wallet? Apart from a service charge, the auto guy will only demand a fare fixed by the state government
• Apart from Amdavadis, the anytime rickshaw service (ATR) will appeal to tourists as they will be able to book a city tour