Delhi HC Asks Rapido To Ensure App Accessibility For Persons With Disability

The Delhi High Court (HC) has asked ride-hailing unicorn Rapido to submit a compliance report on the accessibility of its app for persons with disability (PwD).

The HC has directed the company to also submit an audit report from an “access auditor” empanelled with the department of empowerment of PwD under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment by November 28. 

The order was given by Judge Sanjeev Narula while hearing a writ petition filed by accessibility activist Amar Jain and visually impaired banker Dipto Ghosh Choudhary against Rapdio, raising concerns on accessibility of Rapido’s app for PwD. 

The petitioners said that the Rapido app fails to cater to the needs of disabled individuals. They also highlighted certain features of the app that fall short in terms of compatibility with softwares which increase accessibility, such as screen reading softwares, thus rendering the app “significantly unusable” by PwD. 

Responding to the petition, Rapido acknowledged the accessibility issues and said it would update its app within 6-8 months to comply with accessibility standards under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Further, the startup said that it would introduce a training programme for its captains and staff to ensure they can provide supportive and accommodating service to PwD. It will also look to develop a feedback mechanism to acknowledge and address the concerns of PwD. 

“This initiative includes training on sensitivity, awareness, and the specific needs of persons with disabilities, as mandated under Section 47 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD Act),” the startup said. 

Following this, the HC asked Rapido to submit the compliance report.

In a post on LinkedIn, Jain, who heads non-profit organisation ‘Mission Accessibility’, said that the order will help address the gaps in accessibility for PwD while availing ride-hailing services. 

“We trust that this continued legal intervention would help us plug the gaps of disability inclusion in aggregator based transportation in the country and Rapido would become another good example in this space just like Namma Yatri,” he said. 

The development came almost a month after Rapido entered the coveted unicorn club after raising $120 Mn (about INR 1,000 Cr) from existing investor WestBridge Capital.

Founded in 2015 by Rishikesh SR, Pavan Guntupalli, and Aravind Sanka, the startup  primarily operates in the bike taxi and auto transportation segments. In December last year, it also launched cab services in some cities. In addition, it also offers peer-to-peer delivery services via Rapido Local. 

Rapido counts the likes of Swiggy, TVS Motor, Nexus Venture Partners, and Shell Ventures among its investors.

On the financial front, Rapido’s net loss widened over 50% to INR 674.5 Cr in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) from INR 439 Cr in the previous fiscal year. Operating revenue zoomed to INR 443 Cr from INR 144.8 Cr in FY22.