New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- For Priya Ramesh, a denizen of Bengaluru, the daily commute to work didn't start at the door, but on a screen, well before she stepped out. She always had three apps open: Uber, Ola and Rapido, the trinity that ruled mobility in the city. Fares would fluctuate, drivers cancel, and autos tease from the edge of the map never to arrive, in an ouroboros of hope and cancellation.

And then, in November 2022, Namma Yatri, another icon, in the mustard yellow and green livery of the city's autos, found its way onto Priya's home screen. The app seemed very modest but its promise was audacious: no commissions. For drivers, it meant they would pocket every rupee. For commuters, it meant less chances of cancellations and short w...