Last mile connectivity is India’s latest digital ‘holy grail’, as Rapido also jumps into the fray
Beggars accepting alms via UPI might be a cliched trope, but not really for a global audience that seems overawed at India’s digital leapfrogging up the value chain.
UPI’s poster boy example apart, India’s delivery of services, from food groceries to public distribution to government services is a surprise to even advanced countries, as Delhi Metro MD Vikas Kumar recounted Wednesday evening of his recent experience at a conference in Hamburg he had attended.
“They were surprised and wanted to know how we managed to seamlessly offer last-mile connectivity all through mobile apps,” Kumar said.
The Metro Chief was, of course, referring to the recent initiative of the govt-run e-commerce platform ONDC tying up with mobility apps like Rapido and Uber to offer metro tickets via the respective apps — meaning a commuter in a metro city like Delhi can, using a single app like Rapido, book both his first-mile connectivity and last mile connectivity (say, home to the nearest metro station as well as the final leg of metro station to their office, as the case may be) from options like two-wheelers, auto or taxi cabs, as well as the main commute on the metro itself.
“Delhi Metro has consistently worked towards strengthening last mile connectivity and enhancing commuter connectivity through digital innovation,” said Kumar of Delhi Metro. For example, Metro tickets are available over various online platforms including Paytm and Metro’s own app. However, expanding the service to popular mobility apps like Uber and Rapido is expected to further boost usage.
ONDC launched the service in Delhi on Uber last month and via Rapido today. Bengaluru-based completely domestic-grown Rapido is the fastest growing mobility app in the country.
Rapido already has offerings like flat rate 25 rupee last mile two-wheeler rides to and from metro stations to home (within a 3 km radius) as well as upcoming provisions like pink rides with female drivers aimed to women ride hailers, as well as dedicated pickup and drop spots at select metro stations.
Rapido co-founder Aravind Sanka said the services are already live in Delhi, Chennai and Kochi metros and will be soon available in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
“By enabling metro tickets alongside its first and last mile offerings, Rapido can now stitch the entire journey, doorstep to destination on a single interface, said ONDC COO Vibhor Jain.
Sanjiv, joint secretary in DPIIT also highlighted further initiatives by the government like ONDC, including the recent DigiHaat, where buyers and sellers of anything from groceries to electronics can connect. “The opportunity in the digital space is so enormous that it doesn’t matter if there are multiple players in the same field,” Sanjiv quipped, pointing to the similarities it may have with ONDC.
Of course, the holy grail will be once India’s urban commuter can seamlessly book the entire journey on one platform with one click — presently, one has to book the bike or cab ride(s) and the metro ride separately. But the mobility techies say they are working on a solution.
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