They drive home a service point 24X7

KOZHIKODE: Gone are the days of chauffeur-driven cars. Now, Hello Drivers -- a group of 40 drivers at Eranhipalam here -- are on duty to assist people in need of emergency drivers in the city 24X7 by charging a nominal fee. Though conceptualised as a start-up with business in mind, Hello Drivers is now taking the shape of  social service. The initiative, which started with five drivers a couple of years ago, now has more than 40 of them in the fold. “It’s the service mentality of the drivers that has made it a successful initiative,” said  Gafoor K, owner of the firm.“Today, most of the people who own  a car are not willing to employ a driver on a permanent basis. That’s where the need of initiatives like Hello Drivers arises. We are providing the service even on  hartal days. On receiving a call or sms, a driver will be made available to lend the service,” Gafoor said.The people who seek the service of the Hello Drivers include doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals apart from the people who own a car and are yet to become experts in the art of driving.“I have used this service a couple of times. It is quite economical as we have to spend only around `130 for two hours. Both the times, I have got an excellent driver, who took me to the destination safely,” said Rajasekharan.With the group making a mark in the service of the people, the City police recently  distributed special identity cards for the Hello Drivers. Apart from providing drivers on demand, Hello Drivers also provide driving lessons to the people with a driving licence who are not capable of driving their vehicle.Drivers who are part of the initiatives are members of the Trauma Care and trained in giving first aid, Gafoor added.