Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, has officially been launched in India — two months after a successful pilot operation. Launched by home minister Amit Shah on Thursday (February 5), the service has been initially launched in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, and will be expanded across all states and Union Territories within three years.“In three years, Bharat Taxi will be rolled out across the country, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Dwarka to Kamakhya,” Shah said after launching the platform.
Amit Shah says profits will be shared with drivers
Shah also noted that the profits will be shared with drivers associated with Bharat Taxi.“I said that when this cooperative taxi initiative began, we did not realise how big it would become, but in the coming years it will grow across the country and benefit taxi drivers. I clarified that the government is not entering the taxi sector; this is a cooperative initiative, and the taxi drivers themselves are its owners. I emphasised that every driver associated with this cooperative taxi will have ownership, and it will work for their welfare,” he added.Customers can hail cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers through the platform, and Bharat Taxi will compete with players like Uber, Ola and Rapido. Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution among drivers, positioning the platform as an indigenous alternative to foreign investment-based ride-hailing platforms.According to the ministry, Bharat Taxi has emerged as the world’s first and largest cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, and the world’s largest driver-owned mobility platform.
Bharat Taxi 2-month pilot in Delhi-NCR
According to news agency PTI, over 3 lakh drivers have joined the platform since the launch of its pilot programme, and more than 1 lakh users have registered. Further, more than 10,000 rides have been completed daily in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.Around Rs 10 crore has been distributed directly to drivers so far. The drivers are called ‘Sarathis’, and the platform is said to prioritise social security for drivers through health insurance, accident insurance, retirement savings and a dedicated support system. Support centres operate at seven locations in Delhi.
