Rs.500 crores has been set apart towards safety and hygiene initiatives with 500 fumigation center set up across the country

Safety, hygiene, social distancing and sanitization are the catchwords of the day to safeguard against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Auto makers are ensuring that their factory premises, showrooms and workshops all adhere to the strictest measures of safety and hygiene so as not only to protect their employees but also every visitor that enters their premises.

Ola Cabs, is now offering services in over 200 cities across the country wherein each driver and vehicle is following the safety protocol to help arrest the transmission of this deadly virus. Ola has resumed services after the two month long lockdown and following the announcement of unlock 1.0.

The company is paying special attention to hygiene and safety of its cars and drivers and has earmarked Rs.500 crores towards such initiatives. The Bengaluru based taxi aggregator has set up over 500 fumigation centers in various hotspots and at airports across the country for disinfection of vehicles every 48 hours.

The ‘Ride for Safety’ initiative includes driver training, prevention and sanitization protocols besides a newly designed COVID-19 ready app. All drivers will adhere to daily temperature checks, wearing of masks. All vehicles will receive regular wipe downs and sanitization of all touch points prior to and post rides.

Not only are there regulations in place for drivers, but users will also have to adhere to strict safety and sanitization guidelines. Masks will be compulsory for all Ola passengers. Air Conditioning will be switched off to arrest re-circulation of air and cashless payments will be compulsory.

Ola is also requesting that every passenger should load and unload their own luggage on their own as an added safety precaution. The Ride Safe India microsite shows off all of Ola’s safety initiatives and the company is also inviting customer feedback and ideas on this platform so as to ensure more improved safety measures.

To comply with State Government initiatives, all Ola cabs and auto rickshaws will operate with one driver and two passengers. There is a flexible cancellation policy introduced that allows either passengers or driver partners to cancel the ride if they find that either part is not following rules or wearing masks.

The re-start of Ola after nearly 55 days of lockdown comes as a relief to tens of thousands of driver partners whose livelihood depended on this service.