Uber halts CNG service soon after launch
Uber suspended it has the CNG-run auto-rickshaw service found in Dhaka soon after its rollout, citing "mechanical faults."
Both the introduction and suspension of the service was done without producing any official announcement. The San Francisco-based mostly ride-hailing company did not issue a assertion on the problem despite generally having done so during the past when announcing any latest move.
Some customers had come across the service while using the iphone app to request a drive.
After seeing "CNG service" on the Uber app, Imran Hossain, a private job-holder, requested a vacation to go to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University from Shahjadpur in the administrative centre.
"My request was accepted, and the iphone app showed the fare to come to be about Tk 300. Even so, it had been cancelled after a few momemts. Now the app will not display the CNG service option," Hossain informed The Daily Star yesterday.
The Daily Star attained several screenshots exhibiting the route of a vacation on the iphone app and the messages Uber delivered to its customers following cancellation of a obtain. "Our CNG service will stay suspended for a non permanent period as a result of mechanical faults. We will come back with our up coming update in the near future," Uber wrote in a note.
The platform did not respond to queries sent through its official pr agency in Dhaka.
The official of the Bangladesh Street Transport Authority said it had been unaware of Uber's move.
After the introduction of ride-sharing services by Pathao and Uber, CNG auto-rickshaw owners and drivers had called on the federal government to ban them since it broke their monopoly.
Auto-rickshaw drivers also took to the streets in the capital many times and observed strikes. But their demands drew flak from the general public, with various taking to social press voicing their support for the app-centered services.
In 2017, CNG drivers and owners changed their minds and urged the companies to add them in the apps.
The platforms had planned to roll out CNG services at that time, but it did not progress substantially as the quantity of smartphone users among the auto-rickshaw drivers was suprisingly low.
"We had examined the launch of the service several times. Even so, we couldn't implement it because almost all of the drivers don't use smart devices," Hussain M Elius, co-founder and ceo of Pathao, said yesterday.
"We have no plan to roll out the provider as our key focus happen to be our existing trip sharing services, foodstuff delivery and e-commerce logistics."
In 2018, OBHAI, a ride-sharing software offering the service of cars, motorbikes, minibuses and CNG auto-rickshaws, was launched in Dhaka and later on in Chattogram.
But it as well faced challenges to make the service popular as a result of a lack of smartphone users among the drivers. This prompted the business to get started on distributing smart devices among them.
"We also facilitated training by partnering with the Accident Exploration Institute of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in order that drivers can get safely and be more tech-educated," stated Syed Fakruddin Millath, senior manager for corporate and regulatory affairs at OBHAI Solutions.
Today, 12,000 CNG-function auto-rickshaws are linked to the program. The company has expanded its footprint to Sylhet and Cox's Bazar.
Mofazzol Foraizi, a good driver linked with OBHAI, received a smartphone from the ride-hailing company 2 yrs ago.
He completed 20 trips on Wednesday and 18 trips yesterday.
