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Uber Launches First Water Transport Service in India

The service aims to integrate modern technology with the traditional shikara ride and enhancing accessibility and providing a seamless experience for tourists while promoting Kashmir's tourism industry.

By Mrigan Sharma
New Update
Uber Launches First Water Transport Service in India with Shikara Rides in Srinagar

Uber has launched Uber Shikara, its first water transport service in India, allowing users to book shikara rides on Dal Lake in Srinagar through its app. This marks a milestone as Uber’s first water-based transport offering in Asia.

The service aims to integrate modern technology with the traditional shikara ride and enhancing accessibility and providing a seamless experience for tourists while promoting Kashmir's tourism industry.

Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India and South Asia, highlighted that Uber Shikara is designed to offer a hassle-free and transparent booking process for travelers. By using the Uber app, tourists can easily book their rides at government-approved rates which eliminates the common practice of bargaining between tourists and operators. This initiative helps simplify the entire experience and makes it more accessible.

Initially, Uber has onboarded seven shikaras and plans to expand the fleet depending on demand. Each ride is available for up to 1 hour between Ten am and Five pm, and bookings can be made 12 hours to 15 days in advance.

Uber has made sure that the entire fare collected from the bookings goes directly to the shikara operators, with no extra fees taken by the company, ensuring a transparent and fair process for all parties involved.

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Wali Mohammad Bhatt the President of the Shikara Owners Association, expressed support for the initiative, knowing that the platform would provide local operators with a steady income stream this will reduce reliance on fluctuating tourist demand and eliminating the need for price negotiations. Bhatt also mentioned that with around 4,000 shikaras on Dal Lake, he expects more operators to join the platform, further boosting business and improving the tourist experience.

Uber Expands Water Services

Uber’s expansion into water transport follows its success in European cities like Venice, Italy, where it also offers boat ride bookings.Uber has been providing taxi services in Srinagar, reinforcing its presence in the region.

By combining technology with the cultural tradition of shikara rides, Uber aims to enhance the tourism experience in Kashmir.This offers visitors a more convenient way to explore Dal Lake while helping local operators increase their business. The service is set to bring greater transparency, reliability, and steady income for shikara operators, while promoting tourism in the scenic region.

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Tags: Uber