The service commences with eight Tata Motors’ Tata Magic Iris vehicles
Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer has partnered with Laxmibai Mahila Nagrik Sahakari Bank and SGS Motors in Gwalior to launch the Veerangana Express – an affordable, comfortable, convenient and safe cab service for women, by women in Gwalior. The Veerangana Express will use Tata Motors’ most acclaimed last mile passenger transport solution – the Tata Magic Iris, a stylish, safe and comfortable alternative for commuters who depend on three-wheelers.
The Veerangana Express cab service managed by a group of ladies, will ply within municipal limits in Gwalior. This programme has been funded by Laxmibai Mahila Sahakari Bank and is being supported by the district collector and the transport department. This service is being assisted by the district industrial centre by way of 30 percent subsidy (on-road price) under the “Mukhya Mantri Swarojgar Yojana” which is an initiative by the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking on this initiative, K Sanjeeva Rao, regional sales manager, SCV- Passenger, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, “We are delighted to associate with Veerangana Express, a unique customer focused service aimed at supporting women commuters by women operators with one of our best solutions in last mile public transport – the Tata Magic Iris. It will not only provide a safe, comfortable and convenient commuting option for all women customers but with its car-like easy driving dynamics, women will find it very easy to manoeuvre. It comes with several features and offers best-in-class operator economics, thus generating high savings and profits for the vehicle owners.”
Alka Srivastava, founder, Laxmibai Mahila Nagrik Sahakari Bank, said, “Women empowerment has been our organisation’s sole focus and through ‘Veerangana Express’ we will come closer to our vision of seeing more self-independent women in our society. We are glad that all government authorities and Tata Motors through its channel partner, SGS Motors, are supporting this initiative. We hope the Veerangana pink cabs, which is for the women, by the women, will further encourage women, without having to worry about their commuting woes”. Ms Srivastava also spoke about the GPS (vehicle tracking system) feature available in the Veerangana Express, which makes commuting safer for women in comparison to other vehicles in auto-rickshaw category.
Veerangana Express has been provided auto-rickshaw permits by the transport department will ply near girls school and college, girls hostels, etc within municipal limits in Gwalior. Initially, a total of eight, diesel-powered, Tata Magic Iris auto-rickshaws have been introduced under this scheme which is expected to increase over a period of time. These auto-rickshaws, pink and white in colour, will be driven by women drivers, trained by SGS Motors, an authorised dealer of Tata Motors as per the guidelines of the bank and district administration.
Tata Motors has also partnered with a customer in Bhopal to run a similar service called, Shakti Express with 10 Tata Magic Iris. The company is also in discussion with authorities in Indore to introduce this vehicle, under the programme, Ahilya Express service.
