Uber, which is the largest ride-sharing taxi service in the world announced a small-scale launch of Uber Boat, its new project, on Wednesday, in partnership with the Maharashtra Maritime Board. Transport will be provided from three popular coastal routes of the city – Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands, and Mandwa Jetty through the speedboats.
The service will be effective from February 1, 2019 with two variants offered to the riders – Uber Boat and Uber Boat XL with a seating capacity of 6-8 and 10+ respectively. The objective of the company is to transform into a multi-modal platform of transportation in India. Riders will be able to book an Uber Boat ride in the same way as they do for a cab, that is, tapping a button in the Uber app requesting a speedboat. This way, waterway transportation will also become convenient, comfortable, efficient in the city.
The Uber Boats will be fully equipped with features including lifejackets, printed manual and other collaterals mentioning the safety instructions, and emergency contact details. Rides can be booked at Rs. 5,750 per Uber Boat and Rs. 9,500 per Uber Boat XL.
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Prabhjeet Singh, Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia commented on the launch of the service and said, “We are excited to launch Uber Boat in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. As pioneers in the organized on-demand transport system, Uber’s vision is to create a multi-modal platform to better serve riders and the cities we operate in. With Uber Boat, we will tap the vast potential of the city’s waterways transport system. We aim to provide efficient and easily accessible services to riders who are looking at navigating through these specific routes. With this service, boat operators will be able to gain access to Uber’s highly engaged rider base and enhance their earning opportunity”.
Mr. Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman of the Bombay Port Trust also said, “Our vision is to make Mumbai as the sea transport and tourism hub of the country in collaboration with Maharashtra Maritime Board. It is a pleasure to launch Uber Boat in Mumbai, a step to make the waterway commute more efficient and convenient. As we continue to reimagine the waterways of Mumbai through a host of ambitious projects and partnerships, we believe Uber Boat will play a pivotal role in improving connectivity and will work closely with Uber to make this pilot a success”.
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The CEO of Maharashtra Maritime Board, Vikram Kumar, also spoke about the launch and said, “We are delighted to see the first ever and unique initiative by Uber to launch Uber Boat service in Mumbai. We are confident that this will further bolster the city’s waterway transport facilities by providing locals/Mumbaikars as well as tourists a reliable and convenient option to travel between Gateway of India, Mandwa and Elephanta. Additionally, Maharashtra maritime board will further strive and work with Uber to create new possibilities and augment business for local boat operators”.
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