Government Launches ‘Bharat Taxi’, India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform

New Delhi: India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, Bharat Taxi, will be formally launched on Wednesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurating the service in the capital. The initiative aims to provide a driver-owned alternative to private app-based taxi aggregators, promising fair pricing for passengers and higher earnings for drivers.

Ahead of the launch, Shah said driver-partners — referred to as Sarathis — would not only earn better profits through the platform but would also enjoy ownership and dignity as stakeholders. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “prosperity through cooperation,” according to the Ministry of Cooperation.

The ministry described Bharat Taxi as a transformative step in the mobility sector, placing drivers at the center of ownership, operations, and value creation. The platform seeks to free drivers from what it calls exploitative aggregator models by adopting a zero-commission structure and a surge-free pricing system.

During the launch event, six top-performing drivers will be honored for their contribution to the cooperative ecosystem. They will receive share certificates reinforcing the principle of “driver as owner,” along with insurance benefits including ₹5 lakh personal accident coverage and ₹5 lakh family health insurance.

Officials said nine memoranda of understanding will also be signed with public and private stakeholders to strengthen digital integration, operational efficiency, safety, and service delivery.

Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, Bharat Taxi was established on June 6, 2025, and has rapidly expanded. The platform claims to have onboarded nearly 400,000 drivers and registered over one million users. Approximately ₹10 crore has already been distributed directly to drivers as earnings.

The service also emphasizes social security for drivers, offering health insurance, accident coverage, retirement savings support, and a dedicated assistance system. Seven driver support centers are operational across Delhi. Safety features include verified ride data and emergency assistance, while drivers retain the freedom to work simultaneously on other platforms.

To promote women’s participation, the platform has launched initiatives such as “Bike Didi,” under which more than 150 women drivers have joined the service so far.

Officials say Bharat Taxi has emerged as the world’s largest driver-owned mobility platform and the first cooperative ride-hailing system of its scale, positioning itself as an indigenous alternative to foreign investor-backed aggregators.