When autorickshaws meet fintech

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Editor's note: I don’t need to belabour the point that autorickshaw drivers are a key part of our urban transportation systems. Yet, historically, their welfare doesn’t seem to have received the attention it deserves. After all, who hasn’t had a conversation with an autorickshaw driver about how meagre their earnings are.  In November last year, some autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru began using an app called Namma Yatri to book rides and collect payments. While a majority of the drivers registered in November, user registrations and ride bookings have grown significantly in the last few weeks.  The app, developed by online payments company Juspay, promises better terms for both the consumer and auto driver as there is no intermediary fee. As a result, the final price is not marked up significantly, as it is with Uber and Ola.  On the Namma Yatri app, a driver can charge between Rs 10 and Rs 30 over the government-set minimum fare for a given distance. Users, on the other hand, can choose a driver based on the pricing or automate the decision as in the case …