The Uber taxi services app is now prepared to run buses for commuters daily after receiving approval and an aggregator license from the Delhi Transport Department to operate buses under the Delhi Premium Buses Scheme. Passengers may now reserve their seats up to a week in advance by using the “Uber Shuttle” option on the app.
The Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme of 2023 has granted permission to private bus service operators to oversee high-end public buses that can accommodate beyond twelve people.
These buses won’t be your typical automobiles; instead, they’ll include amenities like Wi-Fi, GPS for precise navigation, CCTV for security, panic buttons for further safety, and 2×2 reclining seats for maximum pleasure.
According to the vice president of technology start-up Minus Zero Suraj Ghosh, “If scaled successfully, the introduction of Uber’s bus services will likely increase competition among existing bus operators, pushing them to enhance their services to retain customers.” He also suggested that for established companies to remain competitive, they could need to adopt comparable technology innovations.
According to Uber, each of their shuttle vans can hold 19 to 50 passengers. Local companies will run these services with the help of Uber’s technology. Experts in the field emphasize that Uber’s success in this area will be contingent upon its operational effectiveness, pricing strategy, and level of customer demand.
“The service could take around 6-12 months to gain significant traction among commuters, depending on factors like marketing efforts, user adoption rates, and integration with existing public transport networks,” Ghosh stated. He doesn’t expect any appreciable changes in earnings or market share until the service picks up steam and improves its operational procedures, which may take a year or two.
