Bengaluru’s Namma Yatri App Set to Introduce Subscription Fees Starting Next Month – Read the Breakdown

Namma Yatri App in Bengaluru to Implement Subscription Charges for Auto Rickshaw Drivers Starting September 1st

The Namma Yatri app in Bengaluru, supported by the Autorickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU), will introduce subscription fees for auto rickshaw drivers who utilize the service beginning September 1. Auto rickshaw drivers will have two payment choices: ₹25 for unlimited trips per day or ₹3.50 per trip, with no charges after completing 10 trips.

Officials have stated that while the app was initially offered free of charge, the subscription fees are essential to maintain the app, cover operational expenses, and manage customer support. The costs associated with running the app include research and development, engineering, and the utilization of Google Maps, which is free for individual users but not for businesses.

Over 35,000 drivers have adopted the newly introduced plans, and 7,500 drivers have already completed the subscription process. Additionally, the Namma Yatri app is presenting a special ₹1 per ride pass for the month of September, with approximately 6,000 drivers already opting for this subscription.

Launched on November 1 last year in collaboration with the Beckn Foundation, supported by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, the Namma Yatri app operates as a Direct-to-Driver platform, ensuring that all payments made go entirely to the driver and their family. This move comes after the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative to enable small merchants in India to enter the e-commerce sector, included Namma Yatri as part of its mobility-focused expansion.