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-   -   Alternative to driving - MERU cab (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/27070-alternative-driving-meru-cab.html)

Hey guys,

Just had an incident with my Indica and it was in the garage for a couple of days. I stay in Andheri W Mumbai and my office is at Andheri East (about 4 kms. away with heavy traffic especially the evenings and tons of pollution). Since I had to look for alternative commuting options, I tried this new Meru Cab service last evening. Just called them up on their number and a green maruti esteem came to my office (about 10 mins. later than the time I had specified). The driver was in uniform and after I sat down in the cab, the driver switched on the ac and said 'Sir, I am now starting the meter', it was a digital tamperproof meter and even had GPS installed. The drive back home took 30 mins. was comfortable and it cost me 52 rupees with a receipt! A regular rickshaw costs me 35 bucks. I am quite impressed with these guys and feel it's a rather good way of commuting. The cabs charge Rs. 15 for the first kilometre and Rs. 13 for every kilometer after that. Maybe other fellow mumbaikars might wanna try this. Also heard of two other cab options, Gold Cab and Smart cab. Does anyone have any experience with these?

Appreciate if you could put down Meru Cabs' numbers. Will certainly benefit other users. Thanks in advance.

I was hoping to read "and then i woke up" at the end of it lol:.

GPS, courteous drivers, receipt, working meters.....too good to be true.

Wow this is awesome news...want the numbers..can someone please post the numbers

Does the meter charge when they stop at a traffic light as well?

Super....Mumbai is Mumbai....I left Mumbai and now live in Pune due to my job (and generally feel good to have come out of the local train rush and bumper to bumper traffic and more importantly, I can enjoy my car here) but sometimes feel I am missing out on Mumbai life...it's so professional and different from rest of India...+ the sea + sandwitch...nobody here in Pune knows how to make a sandwitch!

here is the number for meru taxi 02244224422 and something similar goldtaxi 02232443333

from my experience - most digital meters go into wait mode - while at signals.

That is good news. Hope we get such good service in other cities also.

I once called the Mumbai Gold Taxi Co. as I wanted to try out their service for going from Chembur to M&M factory, Kandivli. The time was 08:00 am on a Tuesday. Wanted to experience the GPS-equipped cab that had been advertised.

The lady at the other end of the phone connection, said that all their cars were busy and I had to book three to four hours in advance.

I was crushed. The expectations of efficiency went poof !! I don't even book my Mumbai-Pune passage four hours in advance! So I just rolled out the Baleno and drove to Kandivli myself instead.

Friends, was my experience a rare anomaly? Or is this typical of every encounter with the Mumbai Gold Taxi service?

Unfortunately they do not have enough cabs to satisfy the demand. Also, I believe that the regular black/yellow taxi unions have made sure that these private taxi services cannot roam the streets looking for fares.

Well friends.
It looks like the teal colored Meru Cabs have a website.
Click on the image.



Here's a question from their FAQs:

Can I call for a cab right now?
At present, MERU services are available at an advance notice of four hours before the time when you need the cab.

Ram

I wish someday we get such good service in Bangalore.

Hellcat

I thought they start their meters when the leave their premises not at your doorstep. This is how private (daily rental) taxis operate.

Been in cabs abroad wherein there is a fare in wait mode as well.