Namma Yatri Autos Now in Namma Chennai: Customers Pay Less, Drivers Earn More with Zero Commission Model
● The community-first app aims to empower drivers and improve customer convenience.
● Launched by the Transport Commissioner; the event attended by drivers and dignitaries, emphasized collaboration between the community, government, and tech companies
● Developed by graduates of Anna University, the app has already registered over 10,000 drivers and aims to onboard over 1 lakh drivers in the next 6 months.
Chennai, Jan 29, 2024: Namma Yatri, India’s open and community-first auto booking app, part of the ONDC Network, was launched in Chennai by the Esteemed Transport and Road Safety Commissioner.Conceived and built by the graduates from Anna University, this innovative, zero-commission app isdesigned to empower auto drivers with higher earnings and autonomy while providing affordable and convenient transportation for Chennai’s residents. Namma Yatri is a tribute to the spirit of Chennai, its iconic autos, and our hardworking drivers.
The Honorable Transport and Road Safety Commissioner, Mr. A. Shanmuga Sundaram, IAS chaired the event and flagged the official launch of service in Chennai. He congratulated Namma Yatri team for developing a direct to driver model towards building a happy and harmonious community of drivers and commuters in Chennai. Mr. I. Jeyakumar, IRTS, Special Officer at CUMTA, emphasized the app’s potential role in integrated urban mobility. Mr. Bhaskar Verma, South Head at Nasscom,highlighted Namma Yatri’s use of technology for social impact. The event also featured the felicitation of top Namma Yatri Stars, the auto drivers themselves.
Namma Yatri exemplifies ONDC’s vision to democratize commerce in the mobility sector. Backed by Juspay Technologies, a leader in payments technology, Namma Yatri serves over 2 lakh drivers and 40 lakh customers, facilitating more than 2.5 crore trips. It has enabled drivers to earn over ₹360 crore without any commission. The app is loved by drivers and customers alike with a rating of 4.8+ and over 50 lakh downloads. The app is customized for Chennai, including the availability of driver app in Tamil and an enhanced user booking experience to prominent locations such as Valluvar Kottam, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Birla Planetarium, Lighthouse, Tidel Park, Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, etc.
Mr. T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC, noted, “Namma Yatri on ONDC network exemplifies the power of open networks in transforming urban mobility. It will facilitate more efficient, inclusive and sustainable transportation.” Adding to this, Mr. Vimal Kumar, CEO of Juspay and an alumnus of Anna University, shared, “Namma Yatri is more than an app; it’s an attempt to unite community, government, and technology. We’re very happy to bring it to our city, where we studied and grew up. With a community-driven approach, we’re committed to improving the lives of drivers and people.”
Namma Yatri’s launch marks a new chapter in building a community-first, sustainable mobility solution in Chennai. With nearly 10,000 drivers already on board, Namma Yatri plans to add 1 lakh drivers in the next 6 months. It is committed to deepening its integration with Chennai’s transportation fabric and soon expand to other cities in Tamil Nadu to offer a seamless, efficient, and inclusive travel experience. Namma Yatri isn’t just about connecting places; it’s about connecting people, fostering community bonds, and driving towards a more sustainable and connected Chennai
Speaking on the occasion, Transport and Road Safety Commissioner Shanmukha Sundaram said, that any technology should be useful to humans. Traffic congestion is the biggest challenge in Chennai and the boundaries of CMDA have been expanded, he said that CMDA has now been expanded to Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Arakkonam taluk of Ranipet district. In this case, he said, autos which have got permission from Chennai can go to Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Arakkonam, Ranipet and other areas. He also said that while the auto fare set by the government in 2013 is being collected till now, the auto fare restructuring is under the consideration of the government.
Senior Vice President of ONDC Nitin Nair, Chief Executive Officer of FIDE Sujith Nair, Chief Executive Officer of Juspay Sheetal Lalwani were present at the launch.
About Namma Yatri: Namma Yatri (NY), developed by Juspay Technologies, is India’s leading open mobility app. With a vision to empower drivers to offer their services commission-free, it is built on the Open Mobility Protocol (ONDC). Namma Yatri enables drivers to provide mobility solutions at a population scale. Transforming urban mobility requires the collaboration of Samaaj (Community), Sarkar (Government), and Bazaar (Business), and Namma Yatri embodies this approach. To date, NY drivers have completed over 2.5 Cr trips, earning more than ₹350 crore commission-free. Namma Yatri boasts 1.8+ lakh drivers and more than 45 lakh riders.To know more, visit www.nammayatri.inAbout Juspay: Established in 2012, Juspay is a technology platform that provides digital businesses and banks with seamless, secure, and reliable, enterprise-grade payment solutions. As a major contributor to open and ecosystem initiatives, Juspay has played a pivotal role in developing the BHIM app, UPI SDK, OCEN / GeM SAHAY, and Beckn / Namma Yatri. Handling over 100 million daily transactions, Juspay has garnered support from notable investors like SoftBank, Accel, VEF, and Wellington Management. To know more, visit www.juspay.in
About ONDC: Incorporated on 31st December 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company, is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India to create a facilitative model that revolutionizes digital commerce, giving greater thrust to penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable Open Networks. To know more, visit https://ondc.org/
