Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how LuhaRide (operated by TECHMCU) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application and website ("Service"). By using LuhaRide, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

LuhaRide is a taxi and ride-sharing platform connecting passengers with drivers and taxi unions in Uttarakhand and nearby areas. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data responsibly.

Information We Collect

Personal Information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, profile photo
• Contact Details: WhatsApp number (optional, for driver-passenger communication)
• Location Data: Your device location when you search for rides, create trips, or use map features (with your permission)
• Verification Documents: For drivers and union admins - Aadhaar card, driving licence, vehicle RC (registration certificate), union registration documents, and related photos
• Vehicle Information: Registration number, vehicle type, seating capacity, make and model
• Trip and Booking Data: Routes, departure times, seat selections, fare amounts, booking status
• Reviews and Ratings: Ratings and reviews you give to drivers, and ratings you receive from passengers

Usage Data:

• Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
• IP address, browser type and version
• App usage patterns, pages visited, features used
• Login history, session information
• Crash reports and diagnostic data

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• Provide the Service: Connect passengers with drivers, manage bookings, coordinate rides
• Identity Verification: Verify driver and union admin identities using submitted documents (Aadhaar, DL, RC) to maintain platform safety and reduce fraud
• Account Management: Create and maintain your account, authenticate logins, manage roles (passenger/driver/union admin)
• Communication: Send notifications about bookings, trip updates, verification status, and service announcements
• Safety and Security: Monitor for fraud, abuse, or safety concerns; investigate reported incidents
• Improve Service: Analyze usage patterns to improve app features, fix bugs, and enhance user experience
• Customer Support: Respond to your queries, complaints, and support requests
• Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations, respond to lawful requests from authorities

Document Verification and Storage

Purpose: Driver and union verification documents (Aadhaar, DL, RC, union photos) are collected exclusively for identity verification, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance.

Watermarking: Uploaded documents are watermarked with "LuhaRide - Verification Copy" to prevent misuse.

Storage: Documents are stored on secure, access-controlled servers with encryption. Only authorized admin personnel can view these documents for verification purposes.

Retention: We retain verification documents only as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter as required for legal compliance, dispute resolution, and fraud prevention (typically up to 90 days after account deletion, unless law requires longer).

No Third-Party Sale: We do not sell, rent, or share your verification documents or personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following situations:

• With Other Users: When you book a ride or create a trip, relevant information (name, photo, contact details for confirmed bookings) is shared between passenger and driver to facilitate the ride.
• Service Providers: We use third-party services (hosting providers, email services, SMS providers) who process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect rights, property, or safety.
• Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the new entity (you will be notified).
• With Your Consent: We may share data for other purposes with your explicit consent.

We DO NOT sell your personal data to advertisers or data brokers.

Location Services

LuhaRide uses your device location (with your permission) to:

• Show nearby rides and destinations
• Auto-fill pickup and drop-off locations
• Display map-based features

Real-Time Tracking: When a driver starts a trip, LuhaRide collects and transmits the driver's GPS location continuously to provide real-time trip tracking for passengers. This location data is shared only with passengers who have a confirmed booking on that specific trip. Location tracking stops automatically when the trip is completed or cancelled. Drivers can see that tracking is active via the app interface.

You can enable or disable location access anytime through your device settings. Disabling location may limit certain features.

WhatsApp and Contact Sharing

LuhaRide may display driver's WhatsApp number and phone number to passengers after booking confirmation. This facilitates direct communication for trip coordination. We recommend using WhatsApp for booking-related queries only.

Important: Contact sharing is limited to confirmed bookings. Be cautious about sharing personal information outside the app.

Reviews and Ratings

Reviews and ratings you submit are visible to other users. They help maintain platform quality and user trust.

• Reviews you write may be edited or removed if they violate our community guidelines
• Ratings received by you from other users are preserved for platform integrity, even if you delete your account
• You cannot delete ratings given to you by other users

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Essential Cookies: Maintain your login session, remember preferences
• Analytics: Understand how you use the app, which features are popular
• Performance: Monitor app performance, identify and fix bugs

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect some app features.

Account Deletion and Your Rights

How to Delete: Go to Profile → Help & Support → Delete Account (placed under Help section to prevent accidental deletion). You will be asked to confirm with an OTP sent to your registered phone number.

What Gets Deleted:

• Your profile and personal information (name, email, phone, photo)
• Trips you created as a driver
• Your bookings as a passenger
• Reviews you submitted
• Verification documents you uploaded (Aadhaar, DL, RC)
• Your login history and notifications

What is Preserved:

• Ratings given to you by other users (for platform data integrity)
• Anonymized transaction records (for legal compliance and analytics)

Other Rights:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update incorrect information via Edit Profile
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format

To exercise these rights, email us at supportluharide@gmail.com

Data Retention

• Active Accounts: We retain your data as long as your account is active
• Verification Documents: Retained while your account is active and up to 90 days after deletion (unless law requires longer) for legal compliance and fraud prevention
• Trip Records: Historical trip and booking data may be retained in anonymized form for analytics and legal compliance
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer if required by law (e.g., tax records, legal disputes)

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
• OTP-based authentication for secure account access
• Access-controlled servers with restricted admin access
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Watermarked documents to prevent misuse

Important: No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. Report suspicious activity immediately.

Payments and Financial Data

LuhaRide does not handle payments. We are a connection platform only.

• Fare payment is settled directly between passenger and driver (cash, UPI, or other agreed methods)
• We do not collect, store, or process payment card information
• We do not collect any payment transaction data
• Payment disputes must be resolved between users directly

This means we have no access to your bank account, card details, or UPI information.

Third-Party Services

LuhaRide integrates with third-party services that may collect information:

• SMS/Email Providers: For OTP verification and notifications
• WhatsApp: When you choose to contact a driver via WhatsApp, you'll leave our app
• Map Services: For location and route display
• Cloud Hosting: Our servers run on secure cloud infrastructure

These third parties have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them when you use external links or services.

Children's Privacy

LuhaRide is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at supportluharide@gmail.com, and we will take steps to delete that information.

Age Requirement: To create a driver or union account, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving licence as required by law.

Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via:

• In-app notification
• Email to your registered address
• Updated "Last updated" date on this page

Continued use of the Service after changes means you accept the updated policy.

Your Consent

By using LuhaRide, you consent to:

• Collection and use of information as described in this policy
• Processing of your data on servers located in India
• Sharing of relevant information with other users (drivers/passengers) to facilitate rides

Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

TECHMCU acts as the Data Fiduciary for personal data collected through LuhaRide, as defined under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act).

You have the right to nominate another person to exercise your data rights on your behalf, as provided under the DPDP Act.

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising from or related to this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Contact Us - Grievances and Support

For questions about this Privacy Policy, data deletion requests, or privacy concerns:

Email: supportluharide@gmail.com

Operated by: TECHMCU

Location: Chandeli, Purola, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India

Grievance Officer (as per IT Act, 2000):

Name: Rahul Panwar
Email: supportluharide@gmail.com
We acknowledge grievances within 72 hours and aim to resolve within 30 days.

We aim to respond to genuine queries within a reasonable timeframe and will route safety or abuse reports appropriately.