Page 756 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

754  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travel by Road Hiring a Chauffeur-
Driven Car
India has an extensive network of major and minor roads, Indian road and traffic
as well as a number of well-maintained national highways, conditions can be a trial
linking all the major cities. Driving is on the left, with right- for anyone unused to these
hand-drive cars. Indian traffic, particularly in the cities, conditions. Hiring a driver is
by far the safest option, and
is very chaotic, so visitors are strongly advised to hire a not all that expensive. All taxis
driver along with a car, rather than trying to negotiate the as well as agency-hired cars are
roads themselves. A number of international car-rental distinguished by their yellow
companies, hotels and taxi stands provide excellent car- number plates with black
rental services. In case of breakdowns, the remarkably lettering. Most taxi stands also
have private cars for hire; these
ingenious roadside mechanics can solve most problems.
are usually white with yellow
number plates. All car rental
companies with “All India
Driving Licences Car Rentals Tourist Permits” have licences
It is necessary to have an Several reputed car-rental for interstate travel.
international driving licence companies – such as Avis All drivers are familiar with
to drive in India. If you don’t and Autoriders International Indian traffic rules, but insist
have one, the Automobile Limited – operate in India. They on getting a driver who knows
Association of India (AAI) has offer both chauffeur-driven and the area that you plan to visit.
several branches across the self-driven cars, which can be Also, do test both the driver
country that will issue a tempo- hired at travel desks in larger and the car before embarking
rary licence, provided you have hotels, tourist offices, travel on a long journey.
a passport and an ordinary agencies or directly from the Chauffeur-driven cars for
driving licence. This may take companies themselves. Most long-distance travel usually
a day or two. You must be over of them operate through charge per kilometre, with
25 years old, and there is a collaborations with local a minimum of 250 km
refundable insurance deposit companies. Avis is in partnership (155 miles) per day, plus
of ₹10,000. Note that you may with the Oberoi Group. additional charges per extra
be asked to take a driving test. Autoriders International Limited, kilometre and an allowance
a reliable Indian company, was for the driver. If you are
earlier a partner of Hertz. Local travelling only one way,
Roads hire services and private taxis additional charges will be
India has a network of over are also available in cities from levied for the return journey
4,689,842 km (2,914,133 miles) taxi stands and agencies. These on the assumption that the
of roads. The primary arterial can usually be arranged by your car will return empty. Costs
roads, the national highways, hotel or through a reliable local are also dependent on the
cover over 92,851 km (57,695 travel agent (see p735). car model and the region
miles) and carry 45 per cent of International cab aggregator of hire, with air-conditioned
the country’s total traffic. State Uber has also started operations cars being the most expensive.
highways run a total length of in India in a number of cities For travelling outside the
over 163,898 km (101,842 miles). and is giving tough competition state or city boundaries, extra
The National Highway Authority to Ola Cabs, a start-up born in charges as well as interstate
of India is in the process of Bengaluru. Both run on mobile taxes are added. If the driver
improving links between the applications and have become has to stay overnight, you
country’s four major cities: Delhi, huge successes owing to will have to pay for his board
Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. quick, reasonable and point- and lodging, so it is best to
The countryside is crisscrossed to-point services. negotiate a flat rate in advance.
with numerous major and minor Car hire is more expensive in
roads of very variable quality. hill regions.
Some village roads are little In certain areas, shared taxis
more than dirt tracks riddled are available for long journeys,
with potholes, so be prepared which cuts the cost. Travellers
for a dusty, bumpy ride. who prefer shared rides for
Most highways and major city to city journeys can opt
roads are equipped with tourist for BlaBlaCar (www.blablacar.in),
facilities such as motels and which connects them to car
petrol pumps. Midway refresh- owners. Certain companies
ment points, fast-food joints and require foreign nationals to
dhabas (see p183) are well marked pay in foreign currency,
with hoardings, and provide Fleet of cars by the private rental though most accept payment
clean food as well as toilets. service company, Ola in rupees as well.

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