Ola signs MoU with the Government of Telangana to enable smart traffic solutions in Hyderabad

Shri Jayesh Ranjan IAS (3rd from right), Sandeep Upadhyay - Regional Head, Ola(3rd from left), Carson Dalton - Ola Mobility Institute (2nd from right) at the signing ceremony in Hyderabad — Shri Jayesh Ranjan IAS (3rd from right), Sandeep Upadhyay – Regional Head, Ola(3rd from left), Carson Dalton – Ola Mobility Institute (2nd from right), with others at the signing ceremony in Hyderabad

Ola will share intelligent data to help augment the Government’s efforts to manage road traffic and congestion
The partnership is part of a wider program by the Ola Mobility Institute to create tools using mobility data to support city-based transport planning and governance

March 18, 2019, Hyderabad: Ola, one of the world’s largest ride-hailing platforms, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana, to support their efforts towards strengthening the traffic infrastructure in the city. This partnership will see Ola share intelligent insights that enable the Government to implement smart solutions to enhance the mobility experience in the city.

Signed in the presence of Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Government of Telangana, this MoU marks a milestone in Ola’s efforts towards harnessing mobility data and creating tools to support transport related governance.

“With mobility playing a key role in the development of a city and our focus on building a comprehensive smart city plan for Hyderabad, these valuable data insights from Ola will pave the way towards building future-ready transport infrastructure. The strategic partnership between the Government of Telangana and Ola will simplify traffic, transport management and will aid transport authorities to plan projects more seamlessly,” said Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Government of Telangana.

The first pilot project proposed to be implemented under this MoU is the dynamic mapping of riding quality of various major roads in Hyderabad through the network of vehicles operating on the Ola platform. This data will be provided to respective state government departments, who monitor road conditions and maintain the overall quality of roads in the city. The intended outcome of this pilot is to reduce accidents due to potholes, monitor the quality of road construction, and prioritize road repair budget. Under this partnership, Ola will work with the government to build innovative solutions for the city.

Speaking about the partnership, Sandeep Upadhyay, Regional Head, at Ola said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Government of Telangana and contribute towards strengthening Hyderabad’s traffic infrastructure. Over the past 6 years, Ola has gathered valuable data collected by cars, autos and two-wheelers that have clocked millions of kilometres on the Ola platform in the city of Hyderabad. Our partnership with the Government of Telangana is a step towards using these learnings for the public good, and we are confident that our efforts will complement the various initiatives already launched by the government to improve the city’s traffic infrastructure.”

The Telangana Government is already at the forefront of the adoption of technology for traffic management such as intelligent traffic system, automated traffic challans etc., and this partnership will further accelerate the efforts towards building a smart Hyderabad. This partnership will act as a model for other metropolitan cities to use mobility data and technology for public good.

About Ola Mobility Institute:
Ola Mobility Institute (OMI) is a policy and social innovation think-tank of Ola that is focussed on developing knowledge frameworks at the intersection of mobility and the public good. The Institute concerns itself with public research on the social and economic impact of mobility as a service, the climate footprint of mobility innovations, skill development and job creation, transportation-oriented urban planning and the digitization of mobility.

About Ola:
Founded in 2011 by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola is one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies. Ola integrates city transportation for customers and drivers onto a mobile technology platform ensuring convenient, transparent, safe and quick service fulfilment. Ola is focused on leveraging the best of technology and building innovative solutions ground-up that are relevant on a global scale. Notably, in 2016, Ola Play the world’s first connected car platform for ride-sharing was launched, transforming commuting experiences and setting the tone for global innovation in this space. Using the Ola mobile app, users across 125+ cities can connect with over a million drivers across a diverse range of vehicles. Driven by a hyperlocal approach, Ola is committed to its mission of building mobility for a billion people.

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