14th August, 2023: Vikas Bardia, a man driven by a great connection to his nation’s heritage, pondered the true significance of Independence Day in the middle of a bustling city, where dreams intersected with purpose. Expressing gratitude and deep admiration for India’s Armed Forces, something which is extremely personal to him, Vikas led Shoffr, a Bangalore based all-electric taxi company, has come up with a special Independence Day Offer dedicated towards the jawans.
Shoffr will provide free airport cab transfers in Bangalore between August 14 to 16, to all army veterans, serving officers and their dependants. All one needs to do is simply log into the platform, book a cab and select ‘Pay later’. Upon carrying a valid identity card, no payment will be asked.
“This is our salute and a small thank you to them all. The faujis, the fauji wives and husbands, their parents, and the fauji kids. Thank you for choosing this life, so that we may passionately pursue different life paths and goals.” Says Vikas Bardia.
In a country where the tricolour was flown to honour its heroes, Vikas’ words and actions paid tribute to the real unsung heroes. Himself hailing from an Army family, he understands what a fauji and the family members go through. The constant relocations, the months of separation, the palpable anxiety during border postings, and the stark reality of life’s fragility formed the backdrop of a fauji’s existence. And not only the soldiers but the entire family embraces this unique rhythm.
This special campaign is essentially a message of thanks to all of them. It is not about discounts or promotions; it was a show of gratitude for the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. Shoffr aspired to be different in a society where money typically took precedence over emotion.
” Thanks to the love shown by users of Shoffr, today I find myself in a position to actually make this happen in our own small way. This is only the start, and we will do more such initiatives for the Indian Armed Forces family as we grow and scale.” Says Vikas.
As the country is geared up to celebrate Independence Day, Vikas Bardia and Shoffr establishes a new precedent and sends a message that Independence Day is no longer just a day of celebration; it was a time to recognize, appreciate, and reciprocate the sacrifices that had created the nation’s destiny.