Cyberabad police collaborate with top carpooling platforms, sRide and Quick Ride, to launch ride-sharing solutions
Days after Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recommended carpooling to tackle the city’s traffic woes, the Cyberabad police are set to roll out a dedicated carpooling app for the IT workforce, senior officials working on the project confirmed.
The goal is to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road by 30%, which amounts to nearly 3 lakh fewer vehicles on the road each day. The city is also projected to see a drop in carbon emissions by around 750 tonnes daily and 15,000 tonnes every month, as per the proposed policy document accessed by The Hindu.
Responding to a question in the Telangana Assembly on March 16, the CM said that discussions are underway to introduce a green channel for carpooling vehicles. “Over 1,600 cars are added to Hyderabad roads per day, calling for concentrated efforts to streamline traffic. People from the same family and even groups of friends and colleagues travel in separate cars, significantly adding to traffic congestion. Vehicles carrying four to five passengers will be prioritised on road to encourage carpooling among citizens,” he stated.
This comes about six months after the former Cyberabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis proposed a carpooling policy to former Telangana Transport Commissioner K. Ilambarithi in a letter. Developed in collaboration with the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) and inspired by successful models in Singapore and some cities in the US, the policy aims to improve vehicle efficiency, road occupancy, and parking while lowering employee transport costs—concerns that have grown more pressing with SUVs now making up 60% of passenger vehicle sales.
Mr. Davis, who has recently taken charge as the Hyderabad Joint CP (Traffic), said consultations with corporations and rideshare providers showed strong employee interest in carpooling, but the lack of a formal state policy has caused hesitation. “Carpooling is well-suited for Cyberabad due to its predictable traffic patterns, with commuters travelling to and from the IT corridor at fixed hours. A police-backed policy will ease concerns about safety, privacy, and financial security, which have previously hindered its growth,” he said.
The letter also noted that in 2018, NITI Aayog advised the Telangana Chief Secretary on steps to promote carpooling.
SCSC CEO Naved Alam Khan added the model is based on cost-sharing, completely eliminating the profitability aspect, which was a key hurdle for corporates in adopting the concept. “We are working with sRide and Quick Ride, two leading carpooling platforms. Discussions are underway to either launch a new app through the Cyberabad traffic police server or modify the existing apps to align with the guidelines, to ensure safety and privacy of commuters,” he explained.
The Cyberabad traffic police will now engage with the State Transport Department to resolve legal gaps and push for its launch, Joint CP (Traffic) Gajarao Bhupal said.
Policy outline
The draft guidelines outline restrictions for car owners, intermediaries, and users, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Private vehicles used for carpooling will not be classified as commercial vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act, exempting them from the “for hire” definition and public transport regulations.
Car owners can offer up to two carpooling rides per day, with fares limited to covering fuel, tolls, maintenance, and insurance costs. The trip must follow the owner’s personal route, published in advance, and picking up random passengers or soliciting rides at public stops is prohibited. The car owner must have a comprehensive insurance policy for the vehicle used for carpooling, including passenger coverage.
Driving engagement through incentives
The guidelines include incentives for both car owners and ride-takers. Car owners may benefit from toll and fuel rebates, along with support from company EHS and similar funds, while ride-takers will have a distinct set of rewards.
Meanwhile, companies adopting carpooling policies stand to improve their corporate image and meet corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals linked to environmental sustainability.
Published – March 21, 2025 08:45 on is
