Amid coronavirus lockdown, Ola resumes services in 100 cities; issues guidelines for drivers and customers

Amid coronavirus lockdown, Ola resumes services in 100 cities; issues guidelines for drivers and customers

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Tuesday, May 05, 2020, 02:26 PM IST
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Ola resumes services in 100 cities; issues guidelines for drivers and customers | PTI

After Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) eases restrictions in select zones across the country, Ola launched a new safety initiative, ‘10 Steps to a Safer Ride’ as operations resume in over 100 cities which are in green and orange zones, said Ola cabs on its website.

Taking forward Ola’s safety-first approach, this initiative strengthens the company’s commitment to enabling a safe ride experience for driver-partners and customers.

Safety of the drivers and customers is all planned and will be kept in mind at all times amid these trying times. As a protocol, all rides will be driven only across the identified safe zones and to ensure every driver-partner adheres to the safety rules, a mandatory selfie authentication mechanism has been put into place before and after every ride.

Ola cabs on its website said that all cars will be cleaned and sanitized after each ride and a flexible cancellation policy has also been introduced under which both the customer and driver-partner can cancel the ride if they feel the other party is not following the rules or not wearing a mask.

The company has mandated driver-partners and customers to follow five precautionary steps each, encouraging them to practice social distancing, sanitization measures and personal hygiene etiquette at all times. The protocols have been divided as follows:

Rules for Driver-partners:

No travel in red zones: Vehicles will not operate to and from Government identified red or containment zones.

Selfie-authentication of drivers: All driver-partners are required to wear masks and need to authenticate this before the start of every ride by sharing a selfie through their partner app.

Equipped with hygiene kits: Driver-partners will be provided with masks, sanitizers and disinfectants and can avail these at all walk-in centres across their cities.

Cars to be cleaned regularly: Common surfaces like the handle, inner handle and seat to be cleaned before every ride.

Flexible cancellations: Drivers and customers are being given the option of cancelling a ride if the other is not wearing a mask to ensure their own safety as well that of subsequent users.

For Customers:

Wearing a mask is compulsory: All customers boarding the cab need to wear masks and should sanitize before and after every ride.

AC to be switched off: To avoid re-circulation of air, the AC will be switched off and windows will be kept open during all rides.

2 passengers per car: Only two passengers per ride will be allowed in the cab. They will also be urged to sit by the windows on the rear of the car.

Load and unload luggage themselves: To help maintain social distancing, customers are urged to load and unload luggage themselves.

Cashless payments: Customers are encouraged to make cashless payments for the rides to avoid any unnecessary contact.

Speaking about the launch of the initiative and resuming operations, Anand Subramanian, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, Ola, said, “We thank the Central Government for recognizing the importance of mobility in these difficult times. As we reopen our platform to millions of citizens for their commute and driver-partners whose livelihoods are dependent on serving mobility needs, safety of both continues to be the topmost priority for us. Our fight against COVID-19 is a collective effort, and will be possible only with both our driver-partners and customers doing their bit to ensure that everyone has access to safe and high-quality mobility.”

He further added, “10 Steps to a Safer Ride brings together customers and driver-partners to adopt 10 best hygiene practices together for minimizing the risks of the Coronavirus on themselves and the community. In our efforts to further flatten the curve, adopting a united front by undertaking the necessary preventive measures will lead to better outcomes and in emerging stronger together.”

Complying with the Central government’s regulations, Ola will only operate in permissible orange and green zones while adhering to the safety norms stipulated by the Ministry of Health. On Tuesday, operations will be launched in a phased manner across these cities. Ola Emergency services across 15 cities continue to operate as per its existing protocol exclusively for trips to and from hospitals.

Here is the complete list of cities where Ola has resumed operations.

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