New app to hail CNG autorickshaws launched

Now commuters in Dhaka will be able to hail CNG autorickshaws from their smartphones. A new ride-sharing app, named "Hellow", was launched on Tuesday by tech company Top Idea Implementation, in collaboration with CNG autorickshaw owners of Dhaka, from a press conference at the National Press Club. Rokeya Prachi, a spokesperson for the organization, said passengers would be able to hail the autorickshaws from the app, and the fare will be set according to the government fare policy. She said the app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store and the service would run on a trial basis till February 28 and then officially launch on March 1. “Since CNG autorickshaws are not covered by the Ride Sharing Services policy, so their services will be run in accordance with the CNG/petrol-powered three stroke wheeler service policy. The fare will match the fare on the CNG meter,” she said. Representatives of Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Autorickshaw Business Owners Association and Dhaka District CNG Autorickshaw Oikya Parishad were present at the press conference. The Cabinet approved the Ride-Sharing Services Guideline 2017 on Monday, as a response to the emergence of app-based ride-sharing services such as Uber and Pathao. Rokeya claimed that many ride-sharing services started in Dhaka and Chittagong without the government's permission. She also said that 500 CNG autoricskshaw drivers were being trained initially on how to use the app. Senior officials from Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Autorickshaw Business Owner's Association Oikya Parishad, Dhaka District CNG Auto Workshop Oikya Parishad were present on the occasion.This article was first published in banglatribune.com