Uber partners with State Government to launch Uber Shuttle Services in Kolkata

Uber and the Transport Department of the Government of West Bengal have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce 'Uber Shuttle' Services in Kolkata, a pioneering bus service for daily commuting. 

The ridesharing app Uber and the Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch ‘Uber Shuttle’ - a bus service for daily commutes in Kolkata. With a first-of-its-kind partnership, the new service will tap into Uber’s global expertise with an aim to provide tech-optimized mobility choices using private bus fleets. The launch of Uber Shuttle will help tackle road congestion while getting more people to commute in fewer vehicles which in turn helps reduce carbon emissions.

By March 2024, Uber will run approximately 60 air-conditioned buses on predefined routes, connecting business districts with residential areas in Kolkata. As part of this MoU, Uber has proposed to invest USD 10 million by 2025 in the State and create approximately 50,000 livelihood opportunities in Kolkata in the next 5 years. The MoU was signed at the ongoing Bengal Global Business Summit by Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department., Government of West Bengal, and Shiva Shailendran, Director - Operations, Uber India and South Asia. 

With the launch of Uber Shuttle, commuters will now be able to pre-book seats up to a week in advance, follow the live location and route of the bus, and know its expected time of arrival (ETA), just like they can do with an Uber cab. This will bring alive a convenient commute experience with no standing passengers, cashless payments, and round-the-clock safety support from Uber including having access to a 24x7 Safety Line. Buses will run on each route from 6 am to 10 pm daily. 

Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, said, “Kolkata has a diverse population and millions of people use various modes of transport to commute every day. We remain committed to improving public transport services and expanding available transport options to make commuting hassle-free."

Commenting on the launch, Shiva Shailendran, Director - Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said, “We are committed to building a business which serves the mobility needs of every Indian and it’s why buses are an important focus area for us at Uber. We are very excited to partner with the Government of West Bengal to launch Uber Shuttle in Kolkata"