Uber Shuttle Service in Kolkata to Cease Operations After April 2
Kolkata: In a significant development for urban commuters, Uber has announced it will discontinue its Shuttle services in Kolkata effective after April 2. The company communicated this decision directly to its users through an official notification, marking the end of a service that has been operational in the city for some time.
Impact on Commuters and Service Scale
This discontinuation is expected to impact approximately 30,000 daily commuters who rely on these services for travel to key business and residential hubs including Sector V, New Town, and Rajarhat. These locations are major destinations for professionals and workers traveling from various parts of the city such as Joka, Maheshtala, Kamalgazi, Howrah, and Dunlop.
Industry sources have revealed that Uber Shuttle utilized a fleet of over 800 buses to operate these routes. According to these sources, bus owners were typically paid around Rs 2,500 per trip for standard buses, with smaller amounts allocated for mini-buses operating on the same routes.
Declining Ridership and Strategic Shift
In recent months, the service has experienced a noticeable decline in ridership, with seat occupancy rates reportedly falling to between 40% to 50%. While Uber has not explicitly cited this decline as the primary reason for discontinuing the service, the company has indicated a strategic shift in focus.
Uber stated it is redirecting its resources and attention toward Employee Transportation Services, believing there is greater demand and potential in that particular segment of the transportation market. The company emphasized this strategic realignment in its communications about the service discontinuation.
Company Response and User Concerns
In response to queries from media outlets, Uber wrote on the X platform: "While Uber Shuttle will no longer be available, you can continue to rely on other Uber products for your transportation needs." The company has assured users that any unused subscriptions will be refunded as Uber credits within seven working days. Support services will continue to be available for pending payments and user queries, according to company officials.
Daily commuters have expressed significant concern about the service ending. Aniruddha Dasgupta, a resident of Greenfield City, voiced a common worry: "This will increase both cost and time for my daily commute." Many regular users are now reconsidering their transportation options and hoping for alternative travel arrangements to emerge.
Broader Transportation Context
The timing of this decision coincides with broader transportation challenges in Kolkata. Both private and government buses are reportedly reducing services due to the upcoming state elections, creating additional pressure on the city's transportation infrastructure. Other contributing factors to the current transportation situation include various technical issues and ongoing fuel supply concerns that have affected service reliability across different modes of transport.
Uber Shuttle services had gained particular traction among office workers seeking reliable and organized transportation to their workplaces. The service's discontinuation leaves a gap in this segment, prompting commuters to explore other options. A transport department official has indicated that additional buses may be added to routes if necessary, though specific plans have not been detailed.
As the April 2 deadline approaches, affected commuters are advised to make alternative transportation arrangements and monitor their Uber accounts for credit refunds related to unused subscriptions.
