the news just mentions that they are discontinued but, dos not probe into the reasons. sometimes why is as important as what.
On Thu, Dec 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM Vaishnavi Jayakumar (Inclusive India) < [email protected]> wrote: > 4 Dec 2025 > > Bengaluru: In 2017, Uber and Mphasis launched Uber Access and Assist, but > the services were discontinued after COVID-19, leaving Bengaluru’s > differently-abled community high and dry. > > While Karnataka plans a bill reserving 5 percent of private jobs and 10 > percent of educational seats for persons with disabilities, around 50 > specially modified vehicles for differently-abled people and senior > citizens lie unused in a Bengaluru parking lot. > > In 2017, ride-hailing aggregator Uber, in partnership with IT services > firm Mphasis, > launched 50 Uber Access vans - retrofitted vehicles for wheelchair users - > and Uber > Assist for seniors or those needing extra help. > > While Mphasis funded the initiative, Uber operated the services via its > app. The vehicles, > equipped with hydraulic wheelchair lifts and driven by drivers certified > by the Diversity > and Equal Opportunity Centre (DEOC), were a relief for the > differently-abled community, > who often struggle to navigate the city. However, the services were > discontinued after > the Covid-19 pandemic. > > Sources told Moneycontrol that these vehicles now need extensive repairs, > including tyre > replacement and rewiring damaged by rodents, costing at least Rs 1.5 lakh > per vehicle. A > Tamil Nadu–based NGO has offered to take over the fleet. > > "Our partnership with Uber (Uber Access and Uber Assist) concluded in > 2020. The vehicles, owned by independent driver-partners, have not been > operational since Covid. > > Some of the remaining vehicles are being processed for in-kind donation to > selected > NGOs. At present, there are no plans to resume the service," Mphasis > spokesperson said. > > Differently-abled activists are dismayed. Vijay NM, who has been using a > wheelchair for > 17 years due to muscular dystrophy, told Moneycontrol, "Uber Access and > Uber Assist > were crucial for our community. After their discontinuation, many stopped > attending > events. Private providers charge Rs 3,500-4,000 for a 10 km trip, compared > to Rs 250- > 350 for regular cabs, and their drivers are untrained and often hesitant > to handle > motorised wheelchairs.” > > "The project, costing Mphasis Rs 13.6 crore, ran 19,000 Uber Access trips > and 3.3 million > Uber Assist trips, benefiting thousands of differently-abled riders and > seniors. Today, the > vans - Toyota Innova Crysta and Tavera with hydraulic lifts - are > deteriorating due to > neglect: rodent damage, dead batteries, rusted hydraulics, and expired > insurance," he > said. > > Activists argue the fleet could be transferred to the Karnataka government > or credible NGOs to operate subsidised accessible transport. "This would > restore dignity and independence to thousands at minimal cost," said Vijay. > > Once a symbol of freedom and mobility, these vehicles now sit idle, their > potential wasted. "We don’t need sympathy or charity. We need > infrastructure, access, and the chance to restart a beneficial service," he > added. > > > www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/bengaluru-five-years-on-50-uber-special-cabs-for-differently-abled-lie-unused-13709363.html > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. 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