Nagara, LatLong ink pact to empower Bengaluru auto, taxi drivers

The platform’s key features include a driver-centric dashboard, where drivers can access ride data, customer feedback, and personalized analytics.

The collaboration between BrandPride Mobility Pvt Ltd that operates Nagara and LatLong’s Onze Technologies Pvt Ltd aims to provide drivers with greater autonomy, transparency, and access to welfare-oriented services.

Under the agreement, all operating costs will be made fully transparent, adhering to an open-book principle, said Niranjanaradhya, CEO of Nagara.

Nagara is India’s first full regulatory fare-compliant SaaS application for autorickshaw and taxi drivers. emphasized the collaborative ethos of the project. “All stakeholders in this initiative will operate on professional open-book principles, committed to improving transparency, collaboration, and performance continually,” Niranjanaradhya said.

Additionally, Nagara aims to decentralise decision-making processes, ensuring that drivers play an integral role in resolving customer complaints and setting operational benchmarks.

He also said that the company would launch a new app which will include metered services for both autorickshaws and taxis based on government fixed fares.

The last revision on the fixed fare for autos took place in 2021 wherein the base rate for the first two kilometre was increased from Rs 25 to Rs 30. For the last three years, the rate has remained unchanged. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has introduced uniform fares for cab aggregators, categorizing cabs by vehicle cost. For cabs under Rs 10 lakh, the fare is Rs 100 for the first 4 km and Rs 24 per additional km. Vehicles costing Rs 10-15 lakh have fares of Rs 115 for 4 km and Rs 28 per km after, while cabs above Rs 15 lakh charge Rs 130 for 4 km and Rs 32 per additional km.

Narayana Bhatta, CEO of LatLong, said that each driver would have their own dashboard, accessible to them and relevant stakeholders. “This digital identity will empower drivers to collaborate with insurance companies or other entities to secure benefits like health insurance. The idea is to give agency back to the drivers, enabling them to make collective decisions about their welfare and operations,” he said.

Bhatta said the aim is to unbundle the current system and create a transparent system where drivers have greater control and visibility.

He added that the partnership would leverage hyper-local mapping technology to provide drivers with precise navigation solutions, cutting costs while enhancing efficiency.

Niranjanaradhya said that maps are a critical yet expensive component for ride-hailing platforms. “By partnering with a cost-effective mapping provider, we aim to reduce expenses and improve operational efficiency. This partnership will enable us to provide hyper-local mapping services with better accuracy, tailored to our needs. Unlike global platforms like Google Maps, local mapping providers can address region-specific challenges more effectively. Moreover, with a subscription-based model, we can optimize our costs while maintaining high-quality navigation and analytics. This integration will support drivers in areas such as route optimization, demand prediction, and overall efficiency,” Niranjanaradhya said.

In the current calendar year, Nagara targets onboarding 10 per cent of the total active driver population (both taxis and autos) within six to eight months.