Date:09/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/09/stories/2008040950240200.htm

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Karnataka - Bangalore

Zip to the airport in ‘Meru’

Staff Reporter

Metered and air-conditioned radio taxi service launched

Cabs will use
GPS-based
technology
Customers will be charged Rs. 15 a km

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Sleek: Drivers for the ‘Meru’ service have been selected after rigorous screening.

BANGALORE: Mumbai-based V-Link Taxis Pvt., Ltd. on Tuesday announced the launch of “Meru” — a metered and air-conditioned radio taxi service — in the city, primarily to cater to those commuting to and from the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli. V-Link is an investee company of India Value Fund, a private equity fund.

Named after the mythological mountain used to churn the Ksheera Sagara, “Meru” features 500 brand new Mahindra Renault Logan sedans, of which 400 will exclusively be deployed for airport operations. V-Link had bagged the exclusive contract to operate pre-paid taxis to and from the airport, the company said.

Customers will be charged Rs. 15 a kilometre from point to point with a minimum fare of Rs. 60 for four kilometres. All the cabs are air-conditioned, fitted with electronic meters and printers and will use GPS-based technology for real-time taxi location and despatch. According to the company, V-Link technology will ensure that there is a responsive “lost and found” tracking system in place so that any item left behind in a Meru cab can be traced to the vehicle.

V-Link launched the premium metered taxi business in Mumbai with 500 cars (Maruti Esteem) in April 2007. Following good response, the company launched operations in Delhi with 200 cabs and in Hyderabad with 500 cabs in February 2008.

Speaking to presspersons, India Value Fund’s Vice President, Prateek Rungta said that the company had chosen drivers after rigorous screening. For every eight drivers short-listed, only one was selected. Those selected had undergone an eight-day training to enable them to serve customers better. The drivers work on a subscription basis under which they would get a handsome remuneration, Mr. Rungta said.

The cabs can be tracked from the main control room that works round-the-clock to determine their geographical location in order to despatch them at the earliest to the customer’s point. Emergency security features such as panic button and first-aid kits are provided in the cabs.

Customers can call for a taxi on 44224422 or request at www.merucabs.com or send a short message to 57575.

V-Link also offers an advance booking system for Meru, allowing a customer to book a cab in advance at their desired location anywhere in Bangalore.

Customers can always hail and flag down a cab on the streets if it is not occupied.