Uber to start motor-bike taxis, UberMOTO in Hyderabad from next month

Image Credit: Uber

  14 Dec 2016 , 13:05

International transportation network company Uber Tuesday announced the launch of motor-bike taxis here from next month. Hyderabad will be the third city in India, after Bengaluru and Gurgaon to get the two-wheeler taxi service. The fares for the bike-taxi will be Rs 20 for the first 3 kms and Rs 5 per km thereafter.

The launch of uberMoto was announced by Uber founder and CEO Travis Kalanick. “It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to get around the city. And it’s great to be working with a progressive, forward thinking government like Telangana on smart mobility solutions that can help reduce congestion in urban areas,” said Kalanick after meeting Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

He also attended a ceremony at T-Hub, where Uber signed an MoU with Hyderabad Metro for last-mile connectivity. Uber India President Amit Jain and Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd Managing Director N. V. S. Reddy signed the MoU in the presence of state Information Technology and Municipal Administration Minister K. T. Rama Rao. “Uber has added another feather in our partnership today by launching UberMOTO to help solve the transportation and congestion problems for people in Hyderabad and I am hopeful that this service will help people in reaching their destination quickly and conveniently,” said Rama Rao.

The company promises that uberMOTO offers an affordable and convenient motorcycle ride at the push of a button, through the Uber app. Riders receive driver and bike details just as they do for other Uber rides, as well as all standard safety features before, during and after the ride including GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends.

Uber officials said their two-wheeler taxi service was available in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia and Vietnam. According to them it is especially well-suited for first mile/last mile connectivity, getting people from their homes or offices to metro stations and vice-versa. Both the driver and rider of the motor-bike taxi have to wear helmets.

IANS

T-Hub launches program to network startup ecosystems

  16 Oct 2016 , 12:10

T-Hub, one of India’s largest startup ecosystem builder, in partnership with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley has announced the launch of T-Bridge — a unique initiative to connect startup ecosystems from around the world to India. The programme will connect Indian startups with global market opportunities, and help bring global startups to India. T-Bridge will help startups access UberEXCHANGE — Uber’s flagship startup mentorship program and TiE Silicon Valley’s mentor network.

Telangana’s Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who is currently on a visit to the US, inaugurated T-Bridge at Uber’s headquarters in San Francisco. He opened T-Hub’s first outpost in the US in association with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley. T-Bridge will enable startup communities in India and around the world to cross-pollinate ideas, innovate and create channels for knowledge transfer.

It will also create a network of mentors, VCs, incubators and accelerators that is advantageous to the Indian startup ecosystem, said a statement released from the minister’s office here on Saturday. T-Bridge will provide a platform for such fast-track tech companies looking to tap into India’s huge consumer market for technology. “We have a strong vision to make Hyderabad one of the top 10 startup cities in the world. T-Bridge is one such move towards opening a channel of investment from the world to the state of Telangana,” said Rao.

“The Telangana government has been one of India’s most progressive states. The vitality and transformational mindset of its leadership gained quick notoriety within the startup world. TiE Silicon Valley is pleased to host the first T-Bridge outpost in Silicon Valley,” said TiE Silicon Valley’s incoming President Ram K. Reddy. “Today more and more people around the world want to build something themselves. Through initiatives like UberEXCHANGE, our mentorship program for Indian startups, we hope to spur entrepreneurship,” said Uber’s senior Vice President for policy and communications, Rachel Whetstone.

Creative partnerships like T-Bridge will strengthen ties between India and the global startup scene, Whetstone said. T-Hub’s CEO Jay Krishnan said since the launch of T-Hub last year, Hyderabad witnessed a threefold increase in startup activity, and added “The city is abuzz with over 30 incubators and co-working spaces. There is something happening in every corner.” “We’re committed to enabling and growing this community and helping Indian entrepreneurs access global resources. T-Bridge is one such initiative in that direction,” Krishnan said.

T-Hub is a unique public/private partnership between the government of Telangana, three of India’s premier academic institutes (IIIT-H, ISB and NALSAR) and key private sector leaders.

IANS