Taxi aggregator Ola on Friday announced its three year partnership with South Western Railway to launch dedicated Ola Zones in 12 railway stations including Majestic, Bangalore Cantonment, Yesvantpur, Krishnarajapuram, Yelahanka, Kengeri, Hebbal, Bangalore East, Banaswadi, Whitefield, Byappanahalli, and Malleswaramin the city.
The association will enable easy and affordable last mile connectivity for hundreds of thousands of commuters who arrive in Bengaluru through these railway stations on a daily basis.
The 'Ola Zone' will work as a pickup and drop off point for customers where Ola vehicles will also, be allotted dedicated parking spots. The partnership will ensure an expected time of arrival (ETA) of cabs that is as low as two minutes.
In addition to this, Ola Kiosks will also have representatives who will assist commuters in booking rides, ensuring a convenient experience for travelers.
"We are excited to join hands with South Western Railway to build a convenient mobility experience for lakhs of commuters across the 12 key railway stations in Bengaluru City. Over the last one year at Ola, we have been integrating our smart mobility solutions with key public service utilities to ensure last mile connectivity along with, building mobility solutions that cater to the diverse needs of consumers. Railway stations form a critical part of city's transport ecosystem and our association with South Western Railway is an important step in this direction," said Chief Operating Officer Ola, Vishal Kaul.
"This association, of providing a dedicated OLA pick zone in the Railway station premises, is the first of its kind in Indian Railways and is a great example of how public and private transport can work together and complement each other's strength to help and solve the last mile connectivity issues of the Railway passengers. This association will also offer Railway passengers a comfortable commuting experience," said Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager South Western Railway, Sridharamurthy.
Ola had recently partnered with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited to equip key metro stations with dedicated Ola Kiosks. Last year, Ola signed a similar MoU with the Kempegowda International Airport and Bengaluru City Junction Railway Station, ensuring a seamless on-road travel experience for customers and driver partners alike. Ola aims to replicate this model with other key public utility spaces across the country.