Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Odd Even Phase II is currently running successfully across the capital. Thus, it’s good to know the transport options which may help you during this Odd Even scheme.
Today we would like to introduce you to MagicSewa, a transport start-up with an all-sedan fleet of 100 per cent CNG taxis that provides reliable, secure and value-for-money city cab service across NCR.
The inception of MagicSewa
MagicSewa was launched by Rakesh Agarwal, a social and an entrepreneur who has been working closely with auto drivers’ community since 2002. The idea behind this venture is to redefine mobility by offering a quality driven, secure, convenient, transparent, energy efficient and 100 per cent law compliant cab service in NCR.At present it’s a bootstrapped venture and is growing through self-funding and that of family and friends.
Speaking about the opportunity in this space, Rakesh Agarwal, Director & CEO, MagicSewa said, “The size of the opportunity is massive. Considering that we travel every day, the lack of public transport infrastructure has resulted in a shift in consumer habits towards instant gratification, on demand services and convenience. With multiple established players offering services only via mobile applications, it is safe to assume that it is largely done online.”
Back in 2008, Agarwal created an animated movie which envisioned connecting commuters with auto rickshaws using dialogue recognition technology. This was at a time when android didn’t exist and the iphone had just made its entry in India. However, work on the venture began seriously a year and a half ago and it was finally launched last December.
The challenge
Agarwal believes that there are already several established players in the segment, capturing market share is probably the biggest challenge. Apart from that, there are several parameters that could go wrong. From partnering with the right drivers, ensuring safety of passengers and working constantly towards taking lakhs of cars off road are things that need to be monitored closely and constantly.
“We are completely compliant with the law, unlike other players who have had multiple run-ins. Surge prices are a big pain point for customers and we keep our prices consistent irrespective of the demand. Our aim is to provide both an affordable and safer alternative to commuters, expressed Agarwal.
The mechanism
Based out of Delhi, the team MagicSewa consists of 40 members and drivers are treated as partners and not as employees.It follows the commission based model and has partnered with existing drivers and empanels them to drive for Magic Sewa.
More than 50 per cent bookings originate from South Delhi and one third of the calls for drop at the airport or railway stations.
“Conceptually, our services are similar to those of other leading cab aggregators. However, having entered the market at a later stage, we were able to correct the faults in our offering that were noticed in other players. There have been multiple news stories regarding incidents with women so we made safety our priority. Apart from GPS trackers, we have fitted panic buttons and monitor all night rides with women passengers, added Agarwal.
Agarwal has been working with the auto rickshaw drivers’ community since 2000, thus he is familiar with their environment and committed to their wellbeing and overall development. He informed that venture has also facilitated drivers’ purchases and bank financing of the cars, and invest in training the drivers. Drivers keep 85 per cent of the fare.
The Odd-Even scheme
According to Agarwal, the Odd-Even scheme may not have been very effective in terms of bringing air-pollution levels down but it has definitely impacted traffic. He mentioned that people still need to follow a routine, get to work and will look for alternatives, and that’s where we come in.
During Odd Even phase I, MagicSewa was a newbie and team was busy in establish the venture. However, this time MagicSewa is prepared. Commuters have been bracing themselves up for Odd-Even by creating or joining carpools, looking up public transport options and of course checking cab prices.
Despite the rise in demand during Odd-Even, MagicSewa intend to keep the prices consistent and also planning to introduce more cars on the road to meet customer expectations.
“We are currently operating only in Delhi-NCR and our immediate goal is to expand to other cities. We are looking to capture a significant market share in all the markets we go to”, concluded Agarwal.
