New Delhi: India is set to witness a major shift in the urban transport landscape with the launch of Bharat Taxi — the country’s first government-backed, cooperative ride-hailing service. Developed jointly by the Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), this initiative aims to provide a safer, fairer, and more transparent alternative to private cab aggregators like Ola and Uber.
A pilot project of Bharat Taxi, involving 650 drivers, will begin in Delhi this November, before expanding nationwide by December. The cooperative venture will eventually include 5,000 drivers and female “sarathis” (charioteers) as co-owners, ensuring equitable participation and profit-sharing.
A Cooperative Approach to Mobility
Bharat Taxi will operate under a cooperative structure managed by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a body established in June 2025 with an initial corpus of ₹300 crore. Unlike private cab companies, which typically charge drivers commissions of 20–25% per ride, Bharat Taxi’s model ensures that drivers retain 100% of their earnings.
Instead of per-ride deductions, drivers will pay a flat subscription fee—daily, weekly, or monthly—giving them predictable costs and greater income stability. “This model eliminates the exploitative commission system and empowers drivers as stakeholders rather than just service providers,” an official from the Ministry of Cooperation said.
The cooperative’s Governing Council includes industry and cooperative leaders, with Amul Managing Director Jayen Mehta as the Chairman and NCDC Deputy Managing Director Rohit Gupta as the Vice-Chairman. Eight other members representing diverse cooperative sectors have also joined the board, which held its first meeting on October 16, 2025.
How Bharat Taxi Will Differ from Ola and Uber
The new service seeks to correct many of the issues plaguing private ride-hailing platforms. Bharat Taxi’s app will feature stable and transparent pricing, unlike the dynamic surge pricing used by competitors. The per-kilometre charge is still under consideration but will remain consistent across cities to avoid price shocks during peak hours.
Moreover, Bharat Taxi will have built-in safety features, including integration with police stations and a dedicated distress button to enhance passenger security—an area of frequent concern in private cab services.
Empowering Women Drivers
A significant feature of the initiative is the inclusion of female “sarathis” — women drivers who will play an important role in expanding safe mobility options for women passengers. Initially, 100 women will join the program, and by 2030, their numbers are expected to rise to 15,000.
Starting November 15, these drivers will receive free training and insurance coverage, as part of the government’s broader vision for gender-inclusive economic participation.
Roadmap to Nationwide Expansion
Following the Delhi pilot, Bharat Taxi will expand to Rajkot, Mumbai, and Pune between December 2025 and March 2026. Training centres will be set up in Lucknow, Bhopal, and Jaipur by April 2026 to prepare the next batch of drivers.
By 2027–28, Bharat Taxi aims to operate in 20 major cities with a network of 50,000 drivers, integrated with the FASTag system for cashless payments and seamless toll operations. Between 2028 and 2030, the cooperative expects to cover district headquarters and rural areas, employing over one lakh drivers and expanding vehicle access across India.
Digital and Cooperative Synergy
Aligned with the Digital India mission, Bharat Taxi’s mobile app will be available for download from app stores in November 2025. The app will support Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English, ensuring accessibility to drivers and passengers from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Officials emphasized that Bharat Taxi is not merely a transport service but a step toward cooperative digital entrepreneurship, blending mobility with social equity. The model also promises to bring transparency to fare systems, accountability to governance, and dignity to drivers’ livelihoods.
