01 February 2019, India:
Ride sharing firm Uber, has launched a pilot project of Uber Boat service in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board.
The on-demand service will provide transportation from three of the city’s popular coastal routes namely Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty, via speed boats. Starting February 1, riders can access two variants of Uber Boat based on seating capacity – 6-8 seater for Uber Boat and 10+ seater for Uber Boat XL.
Prabhjeet Singh, Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia said, “We are excited to launch Uber Boat in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. As pioneers in the organized on-demand transport system, Uber’s vision is to create a multi-modal platform to better serve riders and the cities we operate in. With Uber Boat, we will tap the vast potential of the city’s waterways transport system.”
Prabhjeet Singh, added, “We aim to provide efficient and easily accessible services to riders who are looking at navigating through these specific routes. With this service, boat operators will be able to gain access to Uber’s highly engaged rider base and enhance their earning opportunity.”
Uber’s vision is to transform into a multi-modal transportation platform in India. In line with this, Uber Boat will enable riders in Mumbai to request a speedboat at the tap of a button through the Uber app, thus making waterway commute in the city efficient and convenient, the company said in a statement.
Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman of the Bombay Port Trust, said, ”Our vision is to make Mumbai as the sea transport and tourism hub of the country in collaboration with Maharashtra Maritime Board. It is a pleasure to launch Uber Boat in Mumbai, a step to make the waterway commute more efficient and convenient.”
Sanjay Bhatia, added, “As we continue to reimagine the waterways of Mumbai through a host of ambitious projects and partnerships, we believe Uber Boat will play a pivotal role in improving connectivity and will work closely with Uber to make this pilot a success.”
Vikram Kumar, CEO, Maharashtra Maritime Board, said, “We are delighted to see the first ever and unique initiative by Uber to launch Uber Boat service in Mumbai. We are confident that this will further bolster the city’s waterway transport facilities by providing locals/Mumbaikars as well as tourists a reliable and convenient option to travel between Gateway of India, Mandwa and Elephanta.”
Vikram Kumar, added, “Additionally, Maharashtra maritime board will further strive and work with Uber to create new possibilities and augment business for local boat operators.”
All Uber Boat rides will be equipped with best in class safety features including lifejackets, emergency contact details, printed collaterals along with a manual that highlights safety instructions. The rides are available at INR 5,700/- for Uber Boat (6-8 seater speed boat) and INR 9,500/- for Uber Boat XL (10+ seater speed boat) for all the active routes.
(Image – Uber)
