Startup Originals Team
On June 27, 2025, Mumbai witnessed the soft launch of a new ride-hailing app called ‘Yatri Mitra’, designed specifically for autorickshaw commuters. The app was launched in beta mode and aims to offer a fair, transparent, and driver-friendly alternative to existing aggregator platforms like Ola and Uber. Unlike the big players, Yatri Mitra operates on a zero-commission model, allowing autorickshaw drivers to retain the entire fare while providing commuters with metered pricing, thereby ensuring accountability and affordability.
Who Is Behind Yatri Mitra?
Yatri Mitra is the result of a collaboration between two key players. The app itself has been developed by Metazen Labs, a Thane-based tech company known for working with several government and institutional clients like the Income Tax Department, Thane Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Port Trust, and Rotary International. The on-ground partnership comes from the Seva Sarathi Autorickshaw Taxi & Transport Union, one of the city’s leading autorickshaw unions. This union is not just promoting the app among its 1,000+ affiliated drivers but is also encouraging unaffiliated drivers across Mumbai and Thane to join the platform.
How Does Yatri Mitra Work?
The app follows a unique fee-based structure instead of taking commissions. Auto drivers who register with Yatri Mitra pay a flat fee of ₹25 per day to receive ride bookings through the platform. In return, they are not charged any percentage of the fare, ensuring they keep 100% of their earnings. Rides booked via the app follow the government-approved electronic meter system, which guarantees that passengers are charged fair rates. Payments can be made conveniently through cash or UPI, depending on what suits the commuter.
Interestingly, drivers who pay the daily fee are also covered under personal accident insurance, a thoughtful feature that adds value and security for the auto drivers using the platform regularly. This model not only empowers the drivers but also brings back confidence to passengers who often avoid auto rides due to unpredictable pricing on other apps.
Launch Timeline and Expansion Plans:
The beta launch is currently limited to Mumbai and Thane, but the full rollout is expected by mid-July 2025, with July 15 being targeted as the official public launch date. According to the union, the goal is to onboard 10,000 autorickshaw drivers by the time of the formal launch. Over time, the platform aims to expand across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which is home to over 5.5 lakh autorickshaws, including approximately 2.5 lakh in Mumbai city alone.
Yatri Mitra is not just another ride-hailing app-it represents a collective effort by local unions and tech innovators to build an ecosystem where both drivers and commuters are treated fairly. By keeping fares transparent and cutting out commissions, this initiative could set a new standard for how urban mobility is handled in Indian cities.
