Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.India’s popular ridesharing platform Rapido has expanded its services to include hotel, flight, train, and bus bookings. To achieve this, the company has partnered with leading travel companies including GoIBibo for flights and hotels, RedBus for bus services, and ConfirmTicket for train tickets. The integration allows users to book travel directly within the RapidRide app without needing to download separate apps for each service.
Partnership aims to simplify online travel for users
Rapido’s move comes at a time when India’s online travel market is growing rapidly. The company intends to tap into this market and provide a seamless travel experience from everyday commutes to long-distance journeys. By integrating these travel services into one platform, RapidRide aims to make travel planning more convenient for its users, eliminating the hassle of managing multiple apps.
Company targets tier 2 and tier 3 cities
Arvind Sanka, co-founder of RapidRide, said the company’s goal is to make travel easier and more affordable. He emphasized that the focus is on tier 2 and tier 3 cities, making long-distance travel simpler for users in smaller and medium-sized towns. The initiative is aimed at expanding beyond daily city travel to include regional and intercity journeys.
Current reach and user base in India
Rapido currently operates in over 400 cities and has around 5 crore monthly active users. With the new travel booking services, the company aims to increase this number to 10 crore. This expansion seeks to establish RapidRide as a single platform for all travel needs, from local rides to long-distance travel across India.
Service details for different modes of travel
Users can now book flights and hotels directly via GoIBibo within the RapidRide app. Bus tickets for intercity travel can be booked through the RedBus integration, and train tickets are available through ConfirmTicket. This unified platform provides users with an all-in-one travel solution, making planning trips much simpler and faster.
Competition and market positioning
With these partnerships, RapidRide aims to compete with regional and international players like Grab and Gojek. By offering a comprehensive travel solution within one app, the company hopes to strengthen its presence in the growing online travel market in India and South-East Asia.
Industry outlook for online travel in India
Industry experts estimate that India’s travel market will reach around ₹5.8 lakh crore by 2026. RapidRide’s integrated service model is designed to capture a significant share of this market, especially in smaller cities where travel options are limited and users seek convenience and affordability.
Key pointers in a nutshell
1. RapidRide now offers hotel, flight, train, and bus bookings in India.
2. Partnerships include GoIBibo, RedBus, and ConfirmTicket for integrated services.
3. Travel bookings available directly within the RapidRide app without extra apps.
4. Company focuses on tier 2 and tier 3 cities for long-distance travel.
5. RapidRide operates in over 400 cities with 5 crore monthly users.
6. Service aims to compete with Grab and Gojek in the online travel sector.
7. India’s travel market expected to reach ₹5.8 lakh crore by 2026.
