App collaborates with EnAble India, an NGO dedicated to disabled individuals

App enables users to register as "persons with disabilities" in need of assistance

Drivers receive information about specific type of disability the customer has

Bengaluru’s Namma Yatri autorickshaw-booking app is gearing up to introduce Purple Rides, a service tailored to individuals with disabilities.

Juspay Technologies, the payment operating system supporting the app, is taking a pioneering step in India by providing training to autorickshaw drivers in assisting disabled passengers with utmost care and sensitivity.

Namma Yatri will collaborate with EnAble India, an NGO dedicated to serving disabled individuals, to enhance the app’s accessibility for users with visual, hearing, and physical impairments. The updated app now includes a feature enabling users to register as “persons with disabilities” in need of assistance.

When such a user books a ride, the app promptly notifies drivers with a “purple tick,” signifying that the passenger has a disability. Furthermore, drivers receive information about the specific type of disability the customer has.

Drivers will undergo training to proficiently handle tasks such as folding and unfolding wheelchairs and assisting visually impaired passengers in getting into and out of autorickshaws.

They will be encouraged to call disabled passengers instead of texting them and to use their horns upon reaching the pickup location. Sensitization to meet special needs and requests of customers with disabilities will be a key aspect of their training.

This initiative aims to provide inclusive transportation services for all passengers, including those with disabilities, fostering a more accessible and compassionate autorickshaw experience in Bengaluru.