Meru plans to have presence in 40 cities by 2015 end

Taxi service provider Meru Cabs, which on Wednesday made a foray into Coimbatore, said it plans to have presence in 40 cities by the end of 2015.

"Tamil Nadu being an integral market for growth for the radio taxi industry and with the launch of Meru Cabs in the city, the company is looking at strengthening its presence in the state, which has a wide business potential coupled with customer willingness and rising preference to use radio taxis," Meru Cabs chief executive officer Siddhartha Pahwa told reporters in Coimbatore.

Coimbatore is the 20th city and Meru Cabs would have presence in 40 cities by the end of 2015, Pahwa said.

Asked about security and safety aspects, he said Meru has introduced many pioneering features like Trip Tracker and In Case of Emergency, considering as paramount the safety of passengers, especially women.      

The company has tied up with Delhi police under ICE, where passengers can alert police by pressing a button, he said, adding that Meru Cabs was in discussion with police departments in other cities for such facility.

Asked about introducing Meru Eve -- a service exclusively for and by women, the official said there was tremendous response for the service in Delhi, where it was launched.

The company will decide to expand this to other major cities also, he said.

Pawha said that the fleet of 100 air-conditioned cabs in Coimbatore would provide point-to-point service to commuters at an affordable rate of Rs 16 per km for Flexi and Rs 13 for Genie.

Meru Cabs' all new mobile app, with new features include 'one touch' booking, tracking your cab, confirmed booking up to seven days in advance and India's first cab-wallet, he said.

Image: Meru Cabs; Photograph: Kind courtesy, Meru Cabs