Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched Bharat Taxi, a zero-commission, surge-free ride-sharing app. Drivers get direct profits. Expanding across Maharashtra.
Bharat Taxi, which operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution to drivers, is being positioned by the government as an indigenous alternative to foreign investment-based platforms.
Speaking at the joint launch event of the Central and State governments, Fadnavis said commuters won’t face surge pricing during festivals and heavy monsoon downpours while using Bharat Taxi. Fares are capped at Rs 31 for the first 1.5 kilometers and Rs 21 per kilometer thereafter, aligned with traditional meter-taxi rates, he noted.
“Private aggregators made significant contributions, but passengers and drivers face severe hardship from inflated surge fares and heavy commissions,” Fadnavis said. “Bharat Taxi breaks the chain of intermediaries and directly connects passengers with drivers. The state’s Cooperative Department will oversee all financial transactions,” he added.
In the first phase, 600 taxis are affiliated to the service in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with plans to scale beyond 1,000 units shortly before expanding across Pune and Maharashtra. An MoU was signed between the state government and Sahakar Taxi Co-op Ltd during the event.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol stated that under the ‘Sahakar Taxi’ framework, drivers become direct owners and profit-shareholders rather than employees. Approximately 8 lakh drivers nationwide have enrolled in the broader cooperative network, receiving over Rs 77 crore directly into their accounts without middleman deductions, he said.
