Nano Cabs

June 09, 2011 (LBO) - A city taxi service using Tata Nano cars has started in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, but the firm cannot cope with demand for hires and is awaiting shipments from India to expand the fleet, an official said.





But Dharmadasa says the firm can hardly cope with demand from local customers, with some corporate clients keeping the car the whole day.

The fare starts from 50 rupees a kilometre for the first five kilometres and falls.

After 10 kilometres the price falls to a little over 30 rupees, Dharmadasa said.

Dharmadasa said the firm was hiring drivers and training them on making sure the clients are kept safe and treated courteously.

Thilanga Sumpathipala, a member of a local body representing the Borella district, where the cab service is based says the firm is providing jobs to both men and women in his area, lifting the gender barrier.

Taxi drivers are almost entirely male in Sri Lanka. The country's most popular taxis are three wheelers also imported from India.

There are also cab companies using cars or vans but not all of them have meters.

"We started with 25 cars and another shipment is expected in July," co-founder of NanoCabs, Jayantha Dharmadasa told LBO.

"We hope to