Promoting Entrepreneurship in Indias

Auto-rickshaw and Taxi Services

Akshay Mani, Program Manager, Integrated Urban Transport,
EMBARQ India

Characterization of Intermediate Public

Transport (IPT)

Why is it important to focus on IPT?

Significant Market Size

Significant Mode Shares

Policy Vision for the IPT Sector in India

Non-Commute
Trips

Daily Commute
Trips
Short
distance
Nonmotorized
transport

Long
distance
Public
transport

IPT as feeder
mode

Short
distance
Non-motorized
transport

Long
distance
Public
transport

IPT as feeder
mode

IPT (door-todoor service)

What are the challenges?

Drivers

City

Passenger
s

EMBARQ Indias Activities

Research and
Publications

City
Demonstration
Projects

Literature
review

Rajkot
partnership

IPT policy

Identification
of
opportunities

Role of Autorickshaws in
sustainable
transport

Replicating in
other cities

Permits and
fares

Supporting
entrepreneurs

Case studies
Mumbai,
Rajkot

Policy/regulation

Entrepreneurshi
p

Creation of
platforms for
knowledge
exchange
(blogs,
events)

Entrepreneurship Opportunities

Organized auto-rickshaw services have

been initiated in many cities
They are
operating at a
small scale, and
need to scale-up
to provide
benefits

Need to
understand why
they did not
succeed. Policy
barriers,
finance?

Implementation of Fleet
auto-rickshaw Service in
Rajkot

Implementation Process

Selection of Type of Fleet Service

Selection of Key Service Characteristics

Selection of Strategic Partner

Partnership Agreement May

2012

Partner roles and responsibilities

Partners

Roles/Responsibilities

Rajkot Municipal
Corporation (RMC)

Initial funding support

Provision of office infrastructure
Public outreach
Stakeholder management

Strategic Partner
(Nirmal
Foundation)

Implementation of fleet auto-rickshaw

service, with minimum service requirements
such as branded service, dial-a-rickshaw,
meter-based fares, licensed drivers, social
welfare to drivers, and minimum size of fleet
(500 in 1 year)

EMBARQ India
(technical
partner/advisor)

Technical advice to partners for addressing

any challenges, and improving quality of
service
Monitoring and evaluation of service at
frequent intervals
Measuring and reporting the benefits of
service to Rajkot and its citizens

Key Implementation Activities

Benefits of fleet organization

Brand image and public perception
Elimination of refusals
Formal meter-based fares
Dial-a-rickshaw service
Operational efficiencies reduction in empty
trips
Reduction in operating and maintenance costs
due to fleet management
Higher earnings for drivers
Environmental benefits due to operational
efficiencies and cleaner vehicles

What can other cities learn from

Rajkot
City government can play a leadership role in
bringing reforms
Stakeholder involvement and management is
essential during the project
Understanding the role of auto-rickshaws and
key challenges upfront is important to identify
reform initiatives
Public private partnership (PPP) can be viable to
bring reforms
City government can bring visibility to the
initiative through active public outreach, and
representation at various forums

Key issues