Those who want to hire a Kudumbashree taxi can do so through the newly launched VehicleST mobile app for Android. What’s more, it can also be used to book auto rickshaws, flight tickets, tourist buses, recovery vehicles, emergency services like ambulances, bulldozers and more. The software has been developed by VST Travel Solutions which is under the ambit of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation’s Startup Zone.
Kudumbashree is a community-based, poverty reduction project aimed at women by the government of Kerala in India. It supports micro enterprises, an informal banking system, skill development, collective farming and other initiatives meant for uplifting the poor and the underprivileged. The Kudumbashree Travels taxi service with female drivers at the wheel, was inaugurated in 2013. It was kicked off with a fleet of seven Tata Nano cars.
These vehicles were purchased by the women drivers themselves who had help from the government with getting the required loans to be sanctioned. People could initially only book one of these taxis through a call center. Now they have the choice to do so online or through VehicleST. The mobile application will also come in handy to users for discovering the nearest service station in case the vehicle breaks down or its wheels get punctured.
Also see: Uber launches taxi services in Kochi now
Since reviews and ratings are crucial to businesses these days, the VST Travel Solutions team has even brought in the option for customers to give their opinion on the quality of service provided by their Kudumbashree taxi driver. The application is likely to aid in attracting more takers too, reports PTI. At present, the VehicleST utility will be accessible by Android users in the cities of Thiruvanthapuram, Kochi and Thrissur.
Though you can only hire a Kudumbashree taxi using the VehicleST application through an Android device right now, the tool will be made available for iOS and Windows in the future.