Ola, Uber announce partnership with WBTIDCL in BGBS

Kolkata: Uber, the world's largest on-demand ride-sharing company and Ola, India's most popular mobility platform, announced their partnership with West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (WBTIDCL) at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2018 on Wednesday.

To create 100,000 micro entrepreneurship opportunities through the Uber app over the next five years and reinforcing its commitment to improving the urban mobility landscape in West Bengal, an MoU was signed between Uber and WBTIDCL.

In accordance with the MoU, Uber will create a portal to access the names and details of the eligible driver partners provided by WBTIDCL but also appoint district representatives to work in coordination with the Regional Transport Officers (RTO).

These representatives will facilitate licensed driver partners to register with Uber through its help-desks, maintained in RTO offices across the city. On its part, the government of West Bengal will set up motor training schools to train drivers and enable them to get driving licences.

WBTDCL will also maintain a database of trained and licensed drivers and share this information with Uber. Subject to its on-boarding criteria, Uber will on-board eligible driver partners and register them on Uber with a view to encourage micro-entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities in the transportation sector.

The government of West Bengal has shown its intent in embracing technology-enabled solutions to serve mobility needs and create inclusive and sustainable development, along with increasing economic opportunities.

The company showed its gratitude for the guidance and counsel of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in making it possible for global technology companies like them, contribute to the growth and development of the city and the state.

West Bengal is currently the 4th largest state economy in India, growing at 15.64 percent GVA. Through concerted efforts towards entrepreneurship building and gainful employment, Uber aims to mobilise the untapped potential of millions of Indians and support them in their journey towards self-reliance and micro entrepreneurship.

"Both these initiatives would provide an impetus to our commitment to create favourable economic opportunities in the country," said a company official.

Meanwhile, Ola has also signed an MoU with WBTIDCL to create 5,000 entrepreneurial opportunities in the state. The MoU was signed by Sandeep Divakaran, CFO of Ola Fleet Technologies (OFT), in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state Finance minister Amit Mitra and other members of the Ministry, apart from many other eminent dignitaries at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2018, the annual two-day business summit that saw participation from over 30 countries.

Under the MoU, Ola will provide 5,000 new cabs to unemployed youth enrolled in the Employment Bank of Labour Department, Government of West Bengal (GoWB). The permits of these cabs and driver partners will be issued by the State Transport Authority, West Bengal, under the Fleet Taxi Operators Scheme, 2018.

The cabs will be allotted in a phased manner within a year at an investment of Rs 300 crore.