CASE STUDY
Travellers’ evacuation by FC Cars during COVID-19 lockdown
Background
As COVID-19 began to spread across the world, India, like other countries, started taking appropriate measures to control the spread of the pandemic. This included closing borders, starting with international, followed by domestic, and then a complete lockdown.
Before the onset of lockdowns, one of our clients, a leading software organisation in payments, had two of their employees travel to Mumbai. With the sudden announcement of the lockdown, they were stranded in Mumbai and couldn’t go back to their hometown.
Key challenge
With the pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown imposed in India, the two employees were stranded in Mumbai for a very long time and required assistance to facilitate the travel back to their respective hometowns in Kurnool and Tamil Nadu.
Response
17th May: Evacuation from Mumbai to Kurnool
- Our India-based FC Cars team received a call from the internal consultant team inquiring if a car can be arranged urgently in Mumbai. The location of pick up and destination was shared over the call itself.
- FC Cars immediately checked on the availability of cars with all empaneled partners and found that one of them was able to provide services within a two-hour window.
- Information on the availability of the car was instantaneously passed on to the internal team who then communicated the same with the client.
- Following confirmation, driver, and car details were procured and shared with the traveller.
- The passenger had already issued an e-permit, which helped in avoiding the hassle of arranging passes for interstate travel and speeding up the evacuation.
- As per FC Cars’ commitment, the car reported at the pick-up location in Mumbai within two hours where the passenger was duly picked up and the car headed off to Kurnool.
- Protocols on hygiene and safety were followed by the driver before the car was reported at pick-up location – the driver wore a face mask, and the car was deeply cleaned and equipped with sanitisers.
20th May: Evacuation from Mumbai To Villupuram, Tamil Nadu
- FC Cars received a request internally seeking help to evacuate a passenger from Mumbai to Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.
- FC Cars checked on the availability of the car and once confirmed, shared the car and driver details for the passenger to obtain an e-permit.
- Once the e-permit was procured by the passenger, the same was communicated to FC Cars and the booking was confirmed for the next day.
- The car reported at the pickup location accordingly, the next day and moved to Villupuram as per the itinerary shared.
Result
FC Cars successfully managed to mobilise both passengers amidst the lockdown. In difficult times, FC Cars made it possible for their customer to get back home safely.
- Evacuation of both employees could only be made possible owing to the swift and prompt response from the car partners.
- The entire process was well coordinated and the internal teams, partners and customer were informed and kept updated in real time.
- Guidelines as set by the MHA in view of the lockdown situation were adhered to.
- Hygiene and safety protocols were followed by the driver.
Most importantly, due diligence was done to ensure that all compliances were in place. The car partners ensured that health and safety measures were followed strictly before the cars were allocated and sent for assignments. All of the above resulted in seamless transportation of both employees from Mumbai to their native place.