Paytm app launches auto-rickshaw booking feature via ONDC

Fintech platform Paytm, run by One 97 Communications Ltd, has started offering an auto-rickshaw booking feature on the app via the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), according to people aware of the matter and information on the company's app.

The Paytm app is operating on the buyer side, with Juspay-backed Namma Yatri acting as the platform to onboard auto-rickshaw drivers on the network.

The feature has gone live for some Paytm users in the National Capital Region, Bengaluru and Chennai.


The Paytm app has a separate ONDC tab for shopping for food, groceries and other items. The option to book auto-rickshaw rides is available under this tab.

Source: Paytm app

Paytm did not respond to queries.

While the service is on the Paytm app, it is being provided by a company called Pai Platforms, earlier known as Paytm Ecommerce. Pai Platforms is backed by Paytm founder and chief executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma. One 97 Communications does not hold any stake in Pai Platforms.

Mobility contributes a higher proportion to ONDC’s volumes compared to ecommerce, food and grocery deliveries. According to Namma Yatri data, it has completed 37.3 million trips as of date, and has more than 6.3 million registered users.

Namma Yatri, which has its own independent app for ride-hailing, has operations in seven cities: NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mysore.

In April, Namma Yatri also launched cab services in Bengaluru.

The news of Paytm offering ride-hailing services was first reported by Moneycontrol.

Other than Paytm, several large new-age companies have dabbled with ONDC to offer commerce or mobility services, including Ola for food delivery, PhonePe for ecommerce and Shiprocket for seller onboarding.

ET reported on April 29 that the government was nudging ecommerce marketplaces such as Flipkart and Amazon India to integrate ONDC to their core marketplace.

Between January 2023 and March 2024, ONDC fulfilled 50 million orders, of which nearly two-thirds were mobility transactions through participants such as Namma Yatri.

In March 2024, of the almost 3.6 million non-mobility orders, grocery accounted for 4.5%, while food and beverages made up for nearly 10%.