PUNE: The autorickshaw unions on Tuesday launched a cellphone-based application to ensure that the three-wheeler drivers charged fares as set by the transport authorities.The application, called “Rickshaw app”, was announced a year ago. “We were discussing the app with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune, even as its permission was not needed to launch a mobile application-based transport service,” Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Pratinidhi Mahasangh president Baba Shinde said.“Cab aggregators Ola and Uber are already in the scene. We hope the new application will give them a tough competition and most importantly provide the passengers with a transparent service,” he told TOI.An office bearer of the Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Pratinidhi Mahasangh said, “A little above 7% of the autorickshaws in Pune are registered with Ola and Uber. We have done our research and have the support of many autorickshaw unions. The word of mouth will spread and many will register with us. People will trust us more because our system is being monitored by RTO.”A system will also be in place to slap penalties on drivers in case of ride refusals. “If a refusal is reported, the case will be taken up with the authorities. The driver concerned can lose the membership and has to pay fines. Within a fortnight, we will launch a toll free number for people to book a ride,” the office bearer said.The application has been developed by Pune-based Treta Kalp, a startup launched by 24-year-old Rahul Shitole.“The app can be used even without smartphones. Only 22% people use smartphones in the country. Among the best features of the app is the facility to compare the estimated fare between two destinations and the actual fare. The app will cite the reasons if there’s any difference,” he said.Civic activist Vivek Velankar said, “The demand for an aggregator app for autorickshaws was there for long. The new application is easy to use and will make the autorickshaw service more efficient.”Commuters said it would be interesting to see how many drivers use the app.“Many drivers fleece the passengers, especially with the fuel prices rising. The RTO should ensure that most autorickshaw drivers get registered on the app,” said Raja Kamble, who mostly avails of three-wheelers for his daily travel.

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