ONDC aims to hitch a ride on last-mile travel

State-run Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is attempting to create a network of last-mile service providers to make travel seamless for commuters moving within cities or even between multiple cities. A single window would integrate e-rickshaws, autorickshaws, buses, app-based taxis as well as regular taxis, two officials familiar with the development said.

- Dhirendra Kumar & Varuni Khosla

“We are working on providing last-mile connectivity for commuters by integrating all service providers on a single network and that, too, at a very competitive price," said one of the two officials. “This would alleviate travel concerns, as one would not need to search for different transport options upon reaching a particular destination."

The services would begin with tier-I cities and subsequently expand to other parts of the country, the second official said.

That is the first part of a two-stage plan. The non-profit organization, set up by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, plans to start with local transport services first and later offer bookings for hotels, flights and train travel as well, the official quoted earlier said.

Queries sent to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and ONDC remained unanswered till the press time.

ONDC is neither an application nor a software; it is a network for digital commerce with a mandate to bring all channel partners onto a single network for commuters to access and use the partners’ services. As of now, it is present in about 600 cities and has 80 service providers registered with it. The travel service, likewise, would look to integrate multiple service providers such as app-based taxi providers and others.