logo
Rapido to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 drivers

Rapido to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 drivers

Time of India4 days ago

Ride-sharing platform
Rapido has partnered with the Society for Advanced Clinical and Therapeutic Emergency Medicine (SACTEM) to provide
basic life support training
to over 1,000 bike, auto and cab captains across 16 cities in the country, the company said on Wednesday.
The initiative was flagged off on the World Emergency Medicine Day, which is observed globally on May 27 every year.
Rapido refers to drivers on its platform as captains.
The training is being rolled out in a phased manner, with the first phase covering captains across 16 cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Vizag. Plans are underway to expand the initiative to many more locations in the coming months, Rapido said.
"By equipping our captains with
life-saving skills
, Rapido is taking a meaningful step toward making the roads safer and building a culture of care," said Aravind Sanka, Co-founder, Rapido.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why users feel Ola, Uber, Rapido's advance tipping is grossly unfair
Why users feel Ola, Uber, Rapido's advance tipping is grossly unfair

India Today

time3 days ago

  • India Today

Why users feel Ola, Uber, Rapido's advance tipping is grossly unfair

Uber and Rapido's "advance tipping" feature, where users are prompted to tip drivers before a ride begins, has come under heavy criticism from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and consumers. Last week, the CCPA issued a notice to Uber, raising concerns about the feature, which encourages users to "add a tip for faster pickup". The advance-tipping feature is unethical and, in a way, promotes bidding for suggests that drivers may be more likely to accept a ride if a tip is included upfront. Rapido and Ola Cabs have also adopted similar models, nudging users to pay extra to improve their chances of securing a ride Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, confirmed that the CCPA was investigating ride-hailing apps, including Ola and Rapido. Uber was already under the CCPA scanner. "Forcing or nudging users to pay a tip in advance for faster service is unethical and exploitative. Such actions fall under unfair trade practices. A tip is meant to be a token of appreciation, not a precondition for service," Joshi DID THE ADVANCE-TIPPING SYSTEM START?Interestingly, this controversial system originated with the Karnataka government-backed app Namma Yatri in adopted it in 2023, and Uber rolled it out in April 2025, after announcing the feature late last has defended the feature, saying it's optional and only appears when no driver accepts a ride within 30 Yatri, interestingly, has tweaked its language from "add a tip" to "add more (voluntary)". It is meant to show that advance-tipping is a customer preference and in the ecosystem where cabs are meant to be booked in real time, advance tipping doesn't remain voluntary. There is always a fear playing out – if I don't, others ARE DARK PATTERNS ON E-PLATFORMS?Advance tipping could also be a case of dark patterns and drip pricing — two deceptive design strategies increasingly criticised in digital services.A dark pattern is a manipulative interface design that tricks or pressures users into making choices they might not otherwise make, typically benefiting the platform at the user's expense. In this case, by subtly nudging users to believe that adding a tip will improve their chances of getting a ride quickly, the apps exploit behavioural psychology to drive higher Indian government has asked e-commerce platforms to conduct internal checks for dark patterns on their Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Companies must not wait for CCPA to intervene. They should proactively recognise and remove these deceptive practices before notices are issued. This is not regulatory compliance: it's about building trust with your consumers," according to a press release by the Ministry of Consumer pricing, on the other hand, involves displaying a low initial price while gradually revealing additional costs, like tips, throughout the transaction process. What seems like a straightforward fare can suddenly inflate, with users feeling cornered into paying more just to ensure basic example of that would be base fares advertised by airlines. While booking air tickets, passengers pay for a host of charges, including seats, which makes the final fare much higher than the one displayed.A study by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) also found that 52 of the top 53 apps have deceptive UI (user interface)/UX (user experience) practices that mislead users into opting for something they originally did not intend to study revealed that these problematic apps have been downloaded 21 billion times and flagged the impact on consumer behaviour because of such deceptive patterns discovered include privacy deception, interface interference, drip pricing, and false urgency, an official statement issued by the advertising industry's self-regulatory body ARE UBER, OLA AND RAPIDO USERS SAYING?Public sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative on advance tipping that most ride-hailing services, including the market-dominating Ola Cabs, Uber and Rapido. Social media platforms are flooded with complaints:"This whole 'advance tip' scam started with Bengaluru autos and was pushed by Namma Yatri. Now it's spread like a virus—Uber and Rapido have picked it up, too. Asking for extra money before the ride in the name of 'better service' is nothing but daylight robbery," wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter)."Some action needs to be taken against Rapido and Uber. They're asking for a tip before the ride is even booked. Booking rides used to be much easier before this feature," wrote user called the practice a scam: "Uber India and rapidobikeapp have created this unfair system. Drivers won't accept rides unless you add a tip–sometimes even waiting until the tip reaches 60% or 80% of the fare (sic)."One comment pointed to the deeper issue: "If you allow unethical pricing like surge charges, the next step is bound to be advance tipping. Thanks PralhadJoshiOfc for calling out Uber India's exploitative practice. This kind of Loot Economics must stop (sic)."advertisementSome have also raised questions about whether the tip truly benefits the drivers:"This was rapidobikeapp urging me to tip just seconds after booking a ride. The wait wasn't even a minute. Do tips go entirely to the drivers, or does the company take a share apart from its aggregator fee?"Others highlighted broader issues. "Uber's upfront pricing is hurting drivers. It doesn't compensate them for pickup mileage, time, or wear and tear. The system isn't sustainable–and now this new tipping model makes it worse."The situation is ironic because users took to the ride-hailing apps to get rid of haggling but are now being forced to do the same with drivers online. That is why Ola Cabs, Uber and Rapido aren't just under the government's scanner over advance tipping, they are facing public backlash too.

Rapido to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 drivers
Rapido to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 drivers

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Time of India

Rapido to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 drivers

Ride-sharing platform Rapido has partnered with the Society for Advanced Clinical and Therapeutic Emergency Medicine (SACTEM) to provide basic life support training to over 1,000 bike, auto and cab captains across 16 cities in the country, the company said on Wednesday. The initiative was flagged off on the World Emergency Medicine Day, which is observed globally on May 27 every year. Rapido refers to drivers on its platform as captains. The training is being rolled out in a phased manner, with the first phase covering captains across 16 cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Vizag. Plans are underway to expand the initiative to many more locations in the coming months, Rapido said. "By equipping our captains with life-saving skills , Rapido is taking a meaningful step toward making the roads safer and building a culture of care," said Aravind Sanka, Co-founder, Rapido.

Uber, Rapido eye Goa entry as draft guidelines set stage for ride-hailing platforms
Uber, Rapido eye Goa entry as draft guidelines set stage for ride-hailing platforms

Mint

time5 days ago

  • Mint

Uber, Rapido eye Goa entry as draft guidelines set stage for ride-hailing platforms

Ride-hailing platforms are preparing to enter Goa, a market they have long coveted but struggled to gain access due to resistance from local taxi unions. Now, the state's newly released Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, could finally change that. The draft guidelines, published last week by the Goa government, lay out a formal regulatory framework for app-based taxi and bike taxi operators. It includes licensing conditions, fare regulations, timelines for driver payments, and crucially, mandates that the entire fare be paid directly to drivers, effectively banning platform commissions. The move marks a decisive shift from informal control to structured regulation in one of India's most tourism-dependent states. According to media reports, Goa received 10 million visitors in 2024. The Economic Survey for 2024-2025, meanwhile, projected Goa's population for 2025 at approximately 15.96 lakh. This tourism volume dwarfs the local population, resulting in an incredibly high tourist-to-local ratio. Also Read: Slow but steady: How quick commerce delivered an improbable success for Yulu Aggregators bullish 'We believe tourists as much as locals in Goa deserve more mobility choices, and there is already a strong existing demand for reliable ride options in the state," an Uber spokesperson told Mint. 'This regulatory update makes it possible for platforms like Uber to serve that demand more effectively and responsibly," the company added. It said it will submit formal feedback and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the final framework supports drivers, riders, and Goa's economy. The draft guidelines are open for public feedback until 19 June. Rapido also appears bullish. 'I think the government recognizing the importance of developing a much more convenient and safer transportation infrastructure is crucial — it's a key element of tourism," said Pavan Guntupalli, co-founder of Rapido. Ola Electric declined to comment on the development. Analysts say Rapido's enthusiasm stems from its no-commission and SaaS (software as a service) based model, which analysts believe will give it a competitive advantage in the Goa market. 'Rapido's model is tailor-made for these guidelines, but Ola and Uber may have to adapt," Nikhil Dhaka, policy lead at Primus Partners, a consultancy firm. Also Read: Rapido eyes a bigger slice of the ride-hailing market with four-wheeler push Right fit Ola and Uber may, however, need to adapt their operational models to fit Goa. 'They will have to geographically tweak their models to suit Goa," said Amit Kaushik, managing director at automotive consultancy Urban Science. Platforms will have to contend with Goa's pronounced seasonality. There are peaks where demand is exponentially high, and then times when it's a complete dry season, said Kaushik. 'They have to be very careful — not just about how to operate, but when to operate," Kaushik added. Rapido says its flexibility gives it an edge. 'Whenever there's a lull, we enable our autos and bikes to participate in the delivery economy — not just as taxis, but also for couriers and deliveries," said Guntupalli. It claims to be well-positioned to meet the demands of Goa's evolving mobility market. 'One of the reasons Rapido shifted to a SaaS player is to enable the offline industry to come online," Guntupalli said. He added that the goal is to onboard existing players in the local ecosystem, 'We are minimizing barriers as much as possible so they can leverage our technology, products, and pricing tools." The guidelines are also likely to intensify competition with local digital incumbents like Goamiles, a government-backed ride-hailing service. According to a report by Herald Goa, the state has around 20,000 taxis of varying permits and services. The competition notwithstanding, the new guidelines present an opportunity for Goamiles to modernise its tech infrastructure, Dhaka noted. With scooter rentals being a major part of Goa's transport culture, platforms are exploring ways to integrate this user behaviour. Guntupalli said Rapido is open to exploring rental integration, emphasizing that the platform is not confined to one mode or model. 'If the user wants to ride, we'll provide a platform. If they want to rent, we'll look at that. We're not restricted by any moat," he said. However, trade unions in both North and South Goa have strongly opposed the guidelines, fearing that the government's push for app-based services will threaten their livelihoods, according to media reports. Also Read: Who pays for cancelled rides? Maharashtra's new cab rules stir industry debate

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store