Today, India's shared mobility market (car pooling) is poised to grow, especially in traffic-troubled cities. The growth drivers here include its cost effectiveness, increasing urbanization and a shift towards sustainable transportation alternatives. Furthermore, if we look at it from a figures point-of-view, the car pooling market size is expected to reach USD 49.02 billion by 2033, showcasing a steady CAGR of 21.99% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. Furthermore, another significant attribution to the rise of  the car pooling segment is Bengaluru’s escalating traffic congestion; high vehicle volume, limited road capacity, inadequate traffic management, and ongoing road constructions have become a pressing challenge for commuters.

Having said that, now let's delve into the nitty-gritty of carpooling, where we will shed light on this alternative commute option that can be both cost-effective and eco-friendly. Thereby facilitating an approach towards eradicating the rising expenses of solo travel, including fuel, maintenance, and tolls. Additionally, car pooling can prove beneficial for both the commuters and vehicle owners- a win-win situation - wherein, individuals can significantly reduce travel costs while vehicle owners can minimize vehicle wear and tear.

One Loses Market While Other Capitalizes On It!

The Karnataka High Court has directed bike taxi operators which include Rapido, Ola, and Uber to halt services within six weeks. With this, car pooling firms are capitalizing on this move and gearing up to expand their presence in Bengaluru. This expansion is further bolstered by the rising Metro and bus fares, and increase in diesel prices.

Adding to this, the state government has also hiked the sales tax on diesel which has led to the rise of price by Rs 2 per litre from April 1, 2025. Additionally, metro fares have also significantly risen to staggering 71 percent, coupled with the rise in BMTC bus fares by 15 percent. And as the transport department had announced plans to introduce a policy for carpooling in Karnatake, this move can be of a great benefit for the commuters, especially the individuals who are travelling daily.

So, what do experts in the field have to say?

As per KNM Rao, the Founder at QuickRide, the rising cost of commuting could push more people towards carpooling as it is more economical. Furthermore, it also helps in reducing traffic congestion, emissions, and fuel consumption, while resulting in forex savings, as well.

“Before Covid, there were around 60,000 carpools daily in Bengaluru; now it’s about 20,000. The drop was mainly due to the controversy around carpooling in 2023 (social media posts claimed Karnataka had banned carpooling in Bengaluru, with fines up to ₹10,000). We want authorities to install permanent signboards promoting carpooling to help raise awareness,” he highlights.

He further explained “Users are verified via official email IDs and can choose carpools based on company or gender. The app automates the process in real time for better matching.” Rao also signified that the carpooling costs is just Rs 4 per km. “If  someone commutes 20 km daily, they can offer rides once and carpool the rest of the week, cutting their expenses by up to 80 percent,” he signified.

Supporting the carpooling phenomenon, Akash Jadhav, Founder at  GoPool stated, “People use GoPool to share airport rides. Users save up to 50 percent per trip, with average savings of Rs 750.”

Furthermore, when we speak of long-distance carpooling, Bengaluru-based startup QuicReach offers pre-scheduled shared cabs for long-distance travel (25–350 km), while also focusing on both airport and intercity travel. “We’ve helped users save Rs 40 lakh and avoided 5,000 solo cab trips. We’re not just connecting users like typical carpool apps — we manage the entire ride experience. Fares are fixed and free from surge pricing. “An airport ride that typically costs Rs 1,100-1,500 is just Rs 500–550 with QuicReach. Passengers save money, and drivers earn 30–40 percent more,” said Shubham Jain, Founder at QuickReach.

BlaBlaCar is seeing strong traction on inter-city routes in India, with an average trip distance around 250 km. “Our platform is primarily designed for long-distance travel, and that’s where we’re seeing the maximum demand,” the company said in a statement to Moneycontrol.

BlaBlaCar further highlighted, “Unlike commercial ride-hailing services, BlaBlaCar follows a non-profit, cost-sharing model. We regulate fares to ensure compliance with legal definitions of carpooling.”

As we traverse the ongoing disruption caused by the halt in bike taxi operators, the Car Pooling segment is positively striding forward to fill the market gap left by the bikes taxis. This upward trajectory would only unfold when we see actual amendments carried out by the Government of Karnataka, going forward.