Uber Launches UberBOAT in Mumbai

Uber, the world's largest ridesharing company, on Thursday did a pilot launch of UberBOAT service in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. The on-demand service will provide transportation from three of the city’s popular coastal routes namely Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty, via speedboats. Starting February 1, riders can access two variants of UberBOAT based on seating capacity - 6-8 seater for UberBOAT and 10+ seater for UberBOAT XL.

 

Uber’s vision is to transform into a multi-modal transportation platform in India. In line with this, UberBOAT will enable riders in Mumbai to request a speedboat at the tap of a button through the Uber app, thus making waterway commute in the city efficient and convenient.

 

Prabhjeet Singh, Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia said that they are excited to launch UberBOAT in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. As pioneers in the organized on-demand transport system, Uber’s vision is to create a multi-modal platform to better serve riders and the cities they operate in. With UberBOAT, the company will tap the vast potential of the city’s waterways transport system. They aim to provide efficient and easily accessible services to riders who are looking at navigating through these specific routes. Following the rollout of this service, boat operators will now be able to gain access to Uber’s highly engaged rider base and thereby enhance their earning opportunity.

 

Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Bombay Port Trust, said that their vision is to make Mumbai as the sea transport and tourism hub of the country in collaboration with Maharashtra Maritime Board. He said that it is a pleasure to launch UberBOAT in Mumbai. It is a step to make the waterway commute more efficient and convenient. As they continue to reimagine the waterways of Mumbai through a host of ambitious projects and partnerships, they believe UberBOAT will play a pivotal role in improving connectivity and will work closely with Uber to make this pilot a success, he said.

 

Vikram Kumar, CEO, Maharashtra Maritime Board, said that they are delighted to see the first ever and unique initiative by Uber to launch UberBOAT service in Mumbai. They are confident that this will further bolster the city’s waterway transport facilities by providing locals/Mumbaikars as well as tourists a reliable and convenient option to travel between Gateway of India, Mandwa and Elephanta. Additionally, Maharashtra maritime board will further strive and work with Uber to create new possibilities and augment business for local boat operators, he said. 

All UberBOAT rides will be equipped with best in class safety features including lifejackets, emergency contact details, printed collaterals along with a manual that highlights safety instructions. The rides are available at INR 5,700/- for UberBOAT (6-8 seater speed boat) and INR 9,500/- for BOAT XL (10+ seater speed boat) for all the active routes.