Indore: Flyers in Indore can now catch flight or return from airport in a comfortable AC bus at Rs 99. City i-shuttle is an initiative to reduce air pollution and provide a luxurious safe ride to flyers by AiCTSL and run by a start-up. This service will save flyers from hassle of variable pricing of Ola and Uber. The service has a fixed pricing system to ensure transparency in charges. Reducing the bio-foot print, even elite class can opt for the shuttle and avoid burning fossil fuel for a round-trip. Further, it would also save their family members to wait in car outside the airport to avoid parking charges.
Finally in implementation stage, city i-shuttle application has been launched for android and is in process of launch at apple store. The shuttle provides various facilities which ensure comfortable and safe ride for female passengers as well. Currently, there are two shuttles running in the city catering on route from airport to Nepania and Bengali Square. The start-up will procure two more shuttles to cater to other routes by the end of the month.
Services offered
Air conditioned transport
No extra luggage charge
Panic button
Water on demand
Easy application booking with payment option
Live camera
Current routes
Flyers can opt for any location on the route and book their shuttle service. The current routes on which shuttles are plying are:
Airport – Nepania
Airport – Bengali Square
Possible routes for upcoming buses
Airport – Reti Mandi
Airport – Town Square
Fare decisions
Rs 99 for 10 kilometres
Rs 129 for 15 kilometres
Rs 149 for 20 kilometres
The maximum fare that can be charged by the shuttle by the end of five-year contract would be Rs 199.
Extra benefits
No extra night charges
No luggage charges
20-seater buses modified to 15-seater buses to provide proper luggage space
Booking time?
Unlike many taxi services, customers can plan their travel even a day before and have a restful sleep. Even if it is last minute, customers can book the service from airport kiosk or through the application.
Booking last minute from home might be risky, as the shuttle might not book, as rushing and reaching the location in time is not practically possible.
Currently, the shuttle service is available from 5am to 10pm. Further, the start-up plans to provide the service 24X7 in the coming months.
The Start-Up Team
Terance Joseph, Manish Patel and Tanuj Banerjee are running the service. Joseph is heading administration. Patel is chief executive officer. Banerjee is heading operations.
Some experiences as shared by the team
We must excel in services and provide a comfortable ride. The first time our bus crashed in April, there was just one female passenger in it. It was a dreadful experience. Ensuring the promised safe and comfortable ride, we reached there in time and provided her commute in Patel’s private car. We have noticed many flyers, mostly female flyers going down to airport and sitting there for hours.
For example, if the flight is late night or early morning, the flyer goes there prior to avoid night charges and travelling alone in cabs with the driver. The concern is normal therefore, we have taken care of safety as first. The closing of Jet Airways has reduced footfall at airport by 50 per cent. This was definitely a jolt for us as well. However, we are willing to provide high quality service and will be able to have more customers, as nobody wants to pay extra Rs1,000 or Rs2,000 bucks to reach the airport other than flight tickets.
