US-based ride-sharing company DRriVill wants to hit local street with its full-fledged capacity as soon as the Coronavirus pandemic is over. It has already taken all preparations in this regard and waiting for approval from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). “If we get BRTA approval, we will be the 13th company to join the ride-sharing fleet in Bangladesh ,” said Founder and CEO of DRiVill Mohammad Wahid Ujjal. Ujjal, who is a telecom engineer by profession, claimed he invested 100,000 US dollar in the company holding 54 per cent of its shares. The company is providing service in New York and plans to roll out its services in other states in the US. “As soon as we get permission in Bangladesh we will start our operation in Dhaka as well as in Chattogram and Sylhet,” he said while talking to The News Today recently. The company also plans to offer services in other cities including Khulna, Rajshahi, Cumilla, Barishal, Rangpur and Cox’s Bazar within the next one year under a franchise model. Mohammad Wahid Ujjal said that DRiVill wanted to start the journey in Bangladesh last year, but it was delayed following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now we hope to come to the market as soon as the pandemic is over,” Ujjal said. He also claimed that they would offer at least 10 per cent lower fare and better security than the current service providers are offering. Drivill, set up by non-resident Bangladeshis in US, has already listed more than 1,000 vehicles including cars, motorcycles and CNG-run three-wheelers under their network in Dhaka and started digital campaigning. “We are very close to completing our preparation and I can assure you our service will be unique from the security perspective and customers will feel a major difference when they use it,” said Mohammad Ujjal. Ujjal said, drivers will get the opportunity to work at a minimum zero percent commission for a certain period of time. DRiVill has included a total of 20 new features, which will be users’ attractions. Unlike the existing ride-hailing apps, the Drivill app will not disclose the driver’s or the rider’s mobile number and both parties will have to communicate through the app. “A very common complaint of customers is that they get unwanted calls. We have solved the issue technically,” Ujjal said, adding that Drivill will also provide vehicle tracking. Customers can purchase a weak-long pass for travel, which will make the service cheaper. On the other hand, all the payment mechanisms will also be open; driver will be able to cash out their balance anytime through the bKash channel. At the same time, Drivill will also deliver parcels for e-commerce companies, said Ujjal, who is also working as a network engineer at AT&T Inc. in the US.
