Terms of Service

Last Updated: April 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the PahadChalo mobile application ("App") or website, you ("User", "Passenger", or "Driver") agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms in their entirety, you must not use the App.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and PahadChalo ("we", "us", "our"), the operator of this ride-sharing service for mountain regions. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the App after any modification constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Eligibility & Account Registration

• 2.1 Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account and use the App.
• 2.2 Phone Verification: Registration requires a valid Indian mobile number (+91). We use one-time passwords (OTP) delivered via SMS for identity verification. By providing your phone number, you consent to receiving such OTPs.
• 2.3 Accurate Information: You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration, including your full name and phone number. You are responsible for keeping your profile information up to date.
• 2.4 One Account Per Number: Each phone number may only be associated with one PahadChalo account (either Passenger or Driver). Registering multiple accounts is strictly prohibited.
• 2.5 Driver Registration: Drivers must additionally provide vehicle details (license plate number, vehicle model), taxi stand assignment, drop-off location, and documentation required for approval. Drivers are subject to an administrative approval process before becoming active on the platform. PahadChalo reserves the right to reject or revoke driver approval at any time.
• 2.6 Account Security: You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account. You must notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized use. Drivers are subject to a single-session enforcement policy — logging in on a new device will invalidate previous sessions.

3. Description of Services

• 3.1 Platform Nature: PahadChalo is a technology platform that connects Passengers seeking shared taxi rides with licensed Drivers operating in mountain regions (currently including Tehri Garhwal and surrounding areas in Uttarakhand, India). We are a technology intermediary and not a transportation company.
• 3.2 Ride Booking: Passengers may search for available taxis by selecting a pickup location (taxi stand) and a destination. Available fares are displayed before booking. Passengers may select individual seats or book an entire taxi cab.
• 3.3 Seat Selection: The App provides an interactive seat map allowing passengers to choose specific seats (up to 9 seats) within a taxi. Seats already booked by other passengers are displayed as unavailable.
• 3.4 Real-Time Availability: Ride availability is shown in real time. A driver must be actively "online" (logged into the system and waiting at their stand) for bookings to be accepted.
• 3.5 Driver Queue System: Drivers are required to follow the administrative queue systems established by PahadChalo during peak operating hours to ensure fair trip allocation. Drivers must wait their turn in this queue before going online. This system is managed by PahadChalo administrators.
• 3.6 Trip Status Tracking: Once a booking is confirmed, Passengers may track trip status (Waiting, Ongoing, Completed) in real time.
• 3.7 Driver Dashboard: Drivers may manage their online/offline status, view booked passengers, mark walk-in passengers, manage seat availability, view past trip history and estimated earnings, and start/end trips through the App.
• 3.8 Notifications: The App sends in-app and push notifications for key events including booking confirmation, ride start, ride completion, and cancellations.
• 3.9 Service Limitations: PahadChalo does not guarantee the availability of drivers at any given time or location. Service availability may be affected by weather, road conditions, or other factors beyond our control.

4. Fares & Payments

• 4.1 Fare Display: Fares are displayed per seat for each route before a booking is confirmed. Fares are set by PahadChalo administrators and are subject to change without prior notice.
• 4.2 Cash Payments: All payments are currently made directly in cash to the driver at the time of travel. PahadChalo does not process, collect, or hold payments on behalf of Users.
• 4.3 No Refunds via App: Since payments are made in cash between passengers and drivers, refunds or disputes regarding payments must be resolved directly between the parties involved. PahadChalo is not liable for payment disputes.
• 4.4 Earnings Tracking: The App provides drivers with estimated earnings calculations based on completed trips and route fares. These are indicative figures only and may not account for all variables. PahadChalo makes no representation regarding actual income.
• 4.5 Full Cab Booking: Passengers may choose to book all remaining available seats in a taxi ("Full Cab"). The total fare is calculated as the per-seat fare multiplied by the number of available seats booked.

5. Cancellations & No-Shows

• 5.1 Passenger Cancellations: Passengers may cancel a booking before the trip starts. Cancellations are reflected in real time and the reserved seats are released for other passengers.
• 5.2 Driver Cancellations: Drivers may cancel the booking of a specific passenger who is not present at the stand. When a driver cancels a passenger's booking, the passenger is notified via the App. Repeated cancellations by passengers may result in account restrictions.
• 5.3 No-Show Policy: If a passenger has booked seats but fails to appear at the taxi stand by the time the driver is ready to depart, the driver may mark the passenger as a no-show and cancel their booking. The passenger accepts this risk inherent to the nature of taxi-stand-based transport.
• 5.4 Ride Expiry: Active rides that remain in the "waiting" status for more than 3 hours are automatically expired by the system. Bookings on expired rides are also cancelled.
• 5.5 Platform Liability: PahadChalo is not liable for any losses arising from cancellations, no-shows, or ride expiry.

6. User Conduct & Obligations

6.1 Passengers agree to:

• Arrive at the designated taxi stand promptly before the scheduled departure.
• Behave respectfully towards drivers and fellow passengers.
• Not make fraudulent bookings.
• Not share account credentials with any third party.
• Pay the displayed fare in full to the driver in cash.
• Not engage in any illegal, abusive, or disruptive behavior during a ride.

6.2 Drivers agree to:

• Maintain a valid commercial vehicle permit and driving license at all times.
• Operate only from their assigned taxi stand and on their designated route.
• Comply with the driver queue system during peak hours.
• Ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe for passenger transport.
• Not accept bookings from passengers outside the App system while marked as online.
• Accurately record walk-in passengers using the seat management feature.
• Treat all passengers with respect and dignity.
• Not drive under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance.

6.3 Both Passengers and Drivers agree to:

• Not use the App for any illegal or unauthorized purpose.
• Not attempt to hack, reverse-engineer, or disrupt the App.
• Not use automated scripts or bots to interact with the App.

7. Ratings & Feedback

7.1 The App may include a ratings system. Users agree to provide honest and fair ratings.

7.2 PahadChalo reserves the right to remove ratings that are fraudulent, abusive, or violate these Terms.

7.3 Persistently low ratings may result in driver suspension from the platform.

8. Limitation of Liability

• 8.1 Intermediary Role: PahadChalo is a technology platform connecting independent taxi operators with passengers. We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of drivers or passengers.
• 8.2 No Warranty: The App is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without any warranties of any kind, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose or uninterrupted service.
• 8.3 Maximum Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, PahadChalo's total liability to any User in connection with the App shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law or limited to the total fare of the disputed ride.
• 8.4 Exclusions: PahadChalo is not liable for:
  • Accidents, injuries, or property damage occurring during a ride.
  • Loss of income, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages.
  • Inability to access the App due to network, device, or server issues.
  • Acts of God, natural disasters, strikes, or events beyond reasonable control.
• 8.5 Driver Independence: Drivers are independent operators, not employees or agents of PahadChalo. PahadChalo does not control the manner in which drivers operate their vehicles.

9. Account Suspension & Termination

• 9.1 We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate any account, without notice or liability, if we reasonably believe that the User has:
  • Violated any provision of these Terms.
  • Provided false or misleading information.
  • Engaged in abusive, fraudulent, or illegal conduct.
  • Received excessive complaints from other users.
• 9.2 Driver Deactivation: Driver accounts may be deactivated by administrators at any time. Drivers will lose access to the platform upon deactivation.
• 9.3 User-Initiated Deletion: Users may delete their own account through the Settings page. Deletion removes the user's profile from our active database. Certain records may be retained as required by law.
• 9.4 Effect of Termination: Upon termination, all rights granted to you under these Terms cease immediately.

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 All content, features, designs, graphics, logos, and software within the App are the exclusive property of PahadChalo and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

10.2 You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the App solely for your personal, non-commercial use in accordance with these Terms.

10.3 You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, transmit, or create derivative works of any part of the App without our prior written consent.

11. Governing Law & Disputes

11.1 These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, specifically the Information Technology Act, 2000, and other applicable statutes.

11.2 Any dispute arising from or related to these Terms shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiations.

11.3 If negotiations fail, disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts located in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India.

11.4 You waive any right to participate in a class-action lawsuit against PahadChalo.

12. Contact & Support

If you have any questions about these Terms, or wish to report an issue, please reach out to the PahadChalo team at:

Email: pahadchalo@gmail.com
Service Region: Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

We aim to respond to all queries within 7 business days.