Privacy Policy

Last Updated: April 2026

1. Introduction & Scope

PahadChalo ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of all Users — both Passengers and Drivers — who use our ride-sharing application ("App") and website. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and your rights regarding it.

This Policy applies to:

• All users of the PahadChalo mobile application and website
• All data collected through the App's features, including registration, booking, notifications, and real-time tracking

By using the App, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must stop using the App immediately.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly:

• Full Name: Collected during registration for both Passengers and Drivers.
• Phone Number: (Indian mobile +91): Used as your unique identifier and for OTP-based authentication.
• Role: Whether you are a Passenger or a Driver.
• Driver-Specific Information:
  • Assigned Taxi Stand (pickup location)
  • Assigned Drop-off Destination (route)
  • Vehicle Details: license plate number, vehicle model, seating capacity
  • Uploaded documents (driving license, vehicle registration, insurance) for approval
  • Profile photograph (if provided)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically During Use:

• Booking Records: Pickup location, destination, seat numbers selected, fare, booking timestamp.
• Trip History: Ride statuses (waiting, ongoing, completed, cancelled), dates, times, and routes.
• Notification Data: Records of notifications sent to your account (ride start, cancellation, booking confirmation, etc.).
• Push Notification Data: If you enable push notifications, we store your push notification device tokens to deliver push messages.
• Session Information: Login timestamps, session tokens (used for single-session enforcement for drivers).

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect:

• Payment card details (all payments are cash)
• GPS/location data from your device (we use fixed, pre-defined taxi stands)
• Contacts from your phone
• Microphone or camera data

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing the Service:

• Authenticating your identity via OTP login
• Displaying available taxis for your selected route
• Processing seat bookings and updating real-time availability
• Sending notifications about your bookings and trip status
• Enabling drivers to view their booked passengers' names and contact numbers
• Managing the driver queue and online/offline status

3.2 Communications:

• Sending OTP verification codes via SMS
• Sending in-app notifications for booking, ride start, cancellation events
• Sending Web Push notifications (if you opt in) for the above events even when the App is closed

3.3 Safety & Security:

• Enforcing driver single-session policy to prevent unauthorized account access
• Reviewing accounts flagged for suspicious activity
• Investigating and resolving disputes between Passengers and Drivers

3.4 Analytics & Improvement:

• Driver earnings calculations for display purposes
• Monitoring app performance and usage patterns in aggregate
• Improving the booking flow, UI, and overall service

4. Information Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We share personal data only in the following circumstances:

4.1 Between Passengers and Drivers:

• When a Passenger books a ride, the Driver can see the Passenger's name and phone number within the App for trip coordination purposes.
• When a Driver is listed as available for a route, Passengers can see the Driver's name, vehicle plate number, and profile photo.

4.2 Service Providers:

• We securely store your data and process authentication using trusted third-party cloud infrastructure providers hosted within India.
• Push services: Notifications are securely sent through standard browser push infrastructure.

4.3 Administrative Access & Legal Requirements:

• PahadChalo administrators have access to Driver profiles, documents, and trip records for the purpose of managing approvals, the driver queue, and resolving disputes.
• We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government authority.

5. Data Retention & Security

• Encryption: All data transmitted between the App and our servers uses secure HTTPS/TLS encryption. Your data is securely encrypted at rest.
• OTP Authentication: We use time-limited one-time पासवर्ड (OTP) for login instead of passwords.
• Retention: We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active. Ride records are retained for a minimum of 2 years for compliance purposes.

6. Your Rights & Choices

• Access & Correction: You may request a copy or update of the personal data we hold about you.
• Deletion: You may delete your account at any time through Settings → Danger Zone → Delete Account.
• Push Notifications: You may enable or disable push notifications at any time through the App settings.

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

8. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact:

PahadChalo — Privacy & Data Protection
Email: pahadchalo@gmail.com
Service Region: Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India