Global tech transport company Uber has signed a pact with Indian government-backed firm Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to expand its mobility offerings nationwide.
While Uber and ONDC did not specify details of the partnership, the ride-hailing giant is likely to explore offerings such as intercity bus and metro rail ticket bookings according to a Reuters report.
Uber will initially integrate into the ONDC network for intercity bus ticketing and metro rail ticketing as a buyer application.
ONDC is an initiative launched in 2021 under the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry to democratise digital or electronic commerce, moving it from a platform-centric model to an open network.
The network began its foray into the mobility sector last year by partnering with Bengaluru-based Namma Yatri, an auto rickshaw (Tuk Tuk) booking application.
At an event in Bengaluru, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said Uber “views open source tech stacks with a lot of interest and recognises the opportunities they bring for everyone.”
“We are excited to take our first step through this MoU with ONDC to explore how we can accelerate our ambition to make Uber a platform for every Indian’s daily mobility needs,” added Prabhjeet Singh, president of Uber India and South Asia, in a statement.
ONDC's chief executive T Koshy said the partnership with Uber is a major step forward as the Open Network is continuously evolving and MTT (Mobility, Transport and Travel) is a critical sector where different players together on the network foster innovation and newer business models.
Chennai metro is also a part of the ONDC network, which is in discussions to onboard more metro operators across cities.
More recently this month, Bus ticketing platform redBus became the first independent mobility company to partner with ONDC for offering bus booking in Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad, and metro ticket booking in Chennai and Kochi.
