‘Soon to be launched EELO Cabs will function like Ola and Uber’

Private taxi operators providing Employee Transport Service (ETS) in Bengaluru have joined hands to optimize the utilization of their vehicles, announced Renuka Aradhya, owner and managing director of Pravasi Cabs at an award function held at VIT University, Vellore recently.   

“Only 60 per cent of the vehicles involved in transport of employees are used daily. The vehicles also return empty after dropping the employees.

Renuka Aradhya, Managing Director of Pravasi Cabs addressing the students and faculty members of VIT University after receiving The Weekend Leader - VIT Amazing Entrepreneur Award (Photos: H K Rajashekar)

“We will be launching a company called EELO Cabs which will function like Ola and Uber to put our vehicles to maximum use,” said Aradhya, addressing students of VIT Business School after receiving The Weekend Leader – VIT Amazing Entrepreneur Award.

Aradhya began his career in the travels industry as a driver and later started his own business with a single Indica car. His rags-to-riches story was published in The Weekend Leader under the Amazing Entrepreneurs series.

“EELO Cabs will be fully operational from January 2017. It will have more flexibility than Ola and Uber.  From Indica to SUVs and MUVs, all these AC cabs will be priced at a minimum base fare of Rs. 80 for first four kilometres and Rs. 19.50 per kilometre thereafter,” Aradhya later told The Weekend Leader.

Dr. D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School (left), presenting the award to Aradhya. Also seen is Dr. N Jayasankaran, Advisor, VIT Business School

At the function, Aradhya shared his experiences as a driver in various travel agencies he had worked at. In one of the companies, the vehicle he drove also doubled as a hearse van and he recalled that the experience of transporting dead bodies had taught him to be a responsible human being.

He said the travel companies used to give him a ‘trip sheet’ before every trip – which would have customer details, kilometre readings and usage hours.

“My dream was that one day I would become the person who would be giving the trip sheets,” said Aradhya, whose Paravasi Cabs now operates a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles including 250 of their own.

Proud moment: Holding the trophy, Aradhya is seen with students and faculty members of VIT University

He recalled that Amazon was the first company to engage his services and even after 12 years continues to remain one of his major clients.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (previously known as Housing for All scheme), Aradhya has joined hands with like-minded individuals in providing affordable housing to people belonging to low income group, whose annual salary is Rs. 6 lakh per annum and below.

He is one among the 15 directors of Affordable Housing Society, which has built 300 units of two bedroom flats in Sarjapur in an area of 22,000 square feet in the periphery of Bengaluru.

Aradhya interacted with VIT Business School students and the session was anchored by P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader

He has set foot in the hospitality industry as well and is one of the seven partners in Hotel Villa Park, Nazarbad, Mysuru. Launched by Mega 5 Ventures, a LLP company formed with an investment of Rs. 2.5 crore, the hotel has 42 rooms.

“The hotel, which was inaugurated recently, will be fully operational from December first week,” Aradhya told The Weekend Leader.

A photo opportunity for Aradhya with family and friends

Dr D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School presented The Weekend Leader – VIT Amazing Entrepreneur Award to Aradhya and Prof N Jayasankaran, Advisor, VIT Business School felicitated the awardee.

Aradhya also had a lively interactive session with the business school students and P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader, moderated the discussion. – TWL Bureau