Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government’s ambitious online taxi service, ‘Kerala Savaari’, launched to challenge major taxi companies, has been shut down. Both passengers and drivers have abandoned the service, prompting the government to spend more funds to relaunch it in a new format. The Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) has been tasked with resolving software issues.

Due to the reluctance of drivers to operate at government-approved fares, the government is considering revising the rates. A committee was formed in June to study the issue. The law prohibits charging higher than the government-approved rates. While the government is preparing legal amendments to regulate private online taxi operators who violate this, efforts are underway to raise the fare for 'Kerala Savaari'.

There were rumors that the government was planning to relaunch ‘Kerala Savaari’ in collaboration with other agencies, but Minister V. Sivankutty clarified that this is not being considered. The project, which was launched on a trial basis within the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation limits, was inaugurated in 2022.

The Kerala Motor Workers Welfare Fund Board was responsible for the project. Despite spending Rs 69.32 lakh on the inauguration, advertising, and awareness campaigns, the service failed to gain traction among the public.

The Welfare Fund Board’s failure is attributed to the lack of proper planning in launching the online taxi service. There was also a lapse in providing the necessary government support to the drivers who were part of the system.