Online cab aggregator Uber has signed an MoU with the Haryana Government to introduce its ridesharing services (including private vehicle ridesharing) and help the government with “smart city” development in the state. The company hopes that this will create an alternative to car ownership, while the government hopes to reduce pollution and time spent in traffic in the cities. Uber’s press statement states that it will invest Rs 120 crore or $17.8 million in the state for this. The company already has two MoUs in place with the Telangana Government and the Rajasthan Government to create employment. Early last month, Uber partnered with the Union Labour Ministry of India to let those people who wanted to sign up as drivers on the platform access the National Careers Service to do so. Bike taxis next up? This is a smart move by the company, also given the already progressive stance of the government to adopt bike taxis and ridesharing services. Since MoU concentrates on ridesharing, Uber will likely create awareness and marketing campaigns around the service to drive adoption. It wouldn’t be surprising if Uber launched its UberMOTO bike taxi service (which is really just bike ridesharing) in the state, where it’s legal to do so. Uber hit a roadblock after the Karnataka government deemed the service illegal last week, the same week it was launched, and now requires bike taxi operators to apply for a license for their service in order to operate in the state. P2P sharing and ridesharing…
