India’s tech-savvy cities—Bengaluru and Delhi NCR—are feeling the absence of a crucial player in their urban mobility puzzle: BluSmart. Once hailed as a game-changer in sustainable transportation, the EV-only ride-hailing platform has ground to a halt, leaving behind a wake of confusion and frustration.
Founded in 2019, BluSmart offered Indian commuters a guilt-free way to travel with its zero-emission, fully electric fleet. By mid-2024, it had become a recognizable brand with over 8,000 EVs and a promise of “no ride cancellations” and “no surge pricing.”
Now, with bookings halted and cars parked, commuters are left to wonder: What went wrong?
The catalyst appears to be a financial scandal involving BluSmart’s co-founder Anmol Jaggi. Allegations emerged that he diverted funds earmarked for EV expansion toward personal expenses through an affiliated company, Gensol Engineering. While BluSmart has not commented in detail, SEBI’s ongoing investigation suggests serious violations of corporate governance.
Employees, particularly drivers, were blindsided. “One day we were working, the next day our accounts were locked, and managers told us to return the keys,” says Mohan Reddy, a former BluSmart driver in Bengaluru.
The disruption couldn’t have come at a worse time. Bengaluru’s crumbling public transport and the unreliability of other ride-hailing services had pushed many residents toward BluSmart as their preferred option. “It was clean, efficient, and didn’t cost the earth—literally and figuratively,” says Ananya Mishra, a daily user of the service.
Now, with BluSmart off the road, ride prices are spiking, wait times have increased, and the sustainability conversation in urban transport has hit a snag. If BluSmart doesn’t make a comeback, the progress India has made in mainstreaming EV cabs could face a long pause.
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