The state of Kerala, known for having introduced India’s first government-backed app-based taxi service, is now venturing into an even more ambitious project: an integrated multimodal transport application. This groundbreaking platform aims to provide travelers with truly seamless journeys across various transport options, including the water metro, metro, public buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws, all within one convenient app.
This cutting-edge ride-hailing solution, developed in partnership with Moving Tech Innovations Ltd., a subsidiary of the payments giant Juspay, promises to consolidate all these different modes of transport onto a single, user-friendly platform. The primary objective is to offer passengers a highly efficient and economically viable way to navigate the state’s diverse public transport network.
Speaking on this significant development, Rajiv Ravindran, Director of Growth at Namma Yatri—an open mobility application by Moving Tech Innovations that has already found success in Karnataka and is providing the technological backbone for Kerala’s initiative—emphasized its potential to redefine the country’s ride-hailing landscape.
Operating on an ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce)-based framework, the platform allows users to book a single journey that intelligently combines multiple transport modes to reach their final destination. For example, a passenger traveling from Thripunithura to Nedumbassery airport in Kochi could book a single trip that utilizes an auto, taxi, or bus to the nearest metro station, then takes the metro to Aluva, and finally connects them to the airport via an auto, taxi, or bus—all managed with the same ride PIN.
A standout feature of this integrated platform is the ability to leverage multiple transport systems within a single, continuous journey. Discussions are also underway to potentially incorporate Indian Railways into the app’s services, according to Mr. Ravindran. Furthermore, there are plans to offer non-emergency ambulance services through the platform. All these offerings will be consolidated under the Kerala Savari brand, the state government’s existing online taxi service.
While Kerala Savari faced initial challenges, its underlying model has proven successful in other states, inspiring similar initiatives like Karnataka’s Namma Yatri, Tamil Nadu’s Chennai One, Kolkata’s Yatri Sathi, and Odisha’s Odisha Yatri. Even the upcoming Bharat Taxi, a central government-backed cab service planned for Delhi, draws inspiration from the ‘Kerala Savari’ concept.
The Labour department of the Kerala government has formalized this new collaboration by signing a tripartite agreement with Moving Tech Innovations, replacing its previous service provider. The re-launched, integrated app is slated to go live in Kochi on December 16, marking its initial phase. As a preparatory step, the Labour department will first reintroduce the revamped Kerala Savari auto and cab service in Thiruvananthapuram on November 4, complete with enhanced features.