After conquering Bengaluru, Namma Yatri is now all set to expand its operations in Chennai. The company will be operating in collaboration with the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Read on to find out all the details about Namma Yatri’s expansion to Chennai!
Namma Yatri Launched in Chennai
Namma Yatri plans to onboard around 1 lakh drivers in Chennai within the next six months. In fact, more than 10,000 drivers in the city have already been registered. As of now, there are 1.8 lakh drivers and over 45 lakh riders on the app.
Namma Yatri operates on a zero-commission model, a stark contrast from Ola and Uber, which function on commissions. A zero-commission model ensures that drivers have autonomy and their earnings are comparatively higher.
The app has its focus on enhancing user experience for prominent Chennai locations such as Valluvar Kottam, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Birla Planetarium, and more. It also offers a customized driver app in Tamis, targeting the local market and also offer a customized experience.
Namma Yatri has also introduced initiatives like “Purple Rides” for customers with disabilities.
Namma Yatri: Story Till Now
Namma Yatri was launched in October 2022 by Auto unions in Bengaluru in retaliation to Uber, Ola, etc. In a social media post by Tina Gurnaney, an ONDC employee, it was highlighted that Namma Yatri ensures that 100% of the earnings go directly to the drivers. This is in stark contrast to the standard practice in the industry, where large aggregators charge substantial commissions.
Namma Yatri has also been successful and popular among drivers. The app has enabled drivers to earn as much as Rs. 360 crores without any commission. We reported in October 2023 that Namma Yatri generated ₹189 crore for its affiliated auto drivers.
It was launched by the Autorickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), in partnership with the Beckn Foundation.
It is already operational in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kochi, and Kolkata. The company will soon be expanding its operations to Hyderabad.
The app was launched because cab drivers faced endless problems,such as high fuel costs, high commissions paid to the aggregator per ride, which is said to be as high as 30 percent, EMI repayments on their vehicles, harsh working conditions with impossible targets, and unbeatable traffic congestion.
