Driving change: Corporate bus-pooling for last-mile connectivity

With poor bus service, overcharging auto drivers, exorbitant taxis fares, life-risking shared-autos and limited Metro reach, last-mile connectivity has always been a challenge for Gurgaon's residents.

But Cyber City Welfare Society and private developer DLF have showed the way forward. The two collaborated with logistics firm Smart Ride to start commuter-friendly feeder service.

The service has been a brainchild of Cyber City Welfare society head Subinder Khurana, who decided to bridge the gap between Metro and Cyber City.

The feeder buses operate on two routes - Dwarka Metro station-Cyber City and Sikanderpur Metro station-Cyber City.

The unique bus-pooling initiative, started in 2011, has been a breath of fresh air for Cyber City employees.

"The service is good and the journey is comfortable. It suits our work hours," said Ashu Sharma, an employee at Being Global.

Nearly 2,000 working professionals use the service every day. The 13 buses are air-conditioned, equipped with a CCTV camera and a GPS system that helps passengers track its location using their mobile phones. An app dedicated for the service is also on the cards.

"There is a shuttle every 15 minutes and the fare is reasonable," said V Sairam, a resident of Ghaziabad who uses the service from Sikanderpur station.

The buses have seven stops within Cyber City, dropping off passengers right at the entrance of their workplace.

"More and more companies should come forward and join this service. This will help them as well as the society. More the number of people; more will be the benefits for everyone," Khurana said.

"But one thing the government must do is recognise bus-pooling. The government doesn't understand that multiple companies can come together and run their buses," he added.

According to Smart Ride's Ashok Vashisht, the shuttle's success can be attributed to its need-based solutions for firms and their employees.

"We provide them a total mobility solution with this service. The operation commenced with five buses. Today, we have 13 buses plying on both the routes," he said.

"We have special fares over the weekend when corporates need the buses for long-distance travel. We are going a step further and are in talks with Delhi Metro for using a single-mobility smart card," added Vashisht.