New Delhi: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi, India’s first co-operative-run ride-hailing platform, marking a major shift in the country’s taxi and mobility services sector.

The service will begin operations in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, with plans for a pan-India rollout within three years. The platform has been promoted by eight leading co-operative institutions, including dairy major Amul, NCDC, IFFCO, NABARD and NDDB.

Addressing the launch event on Thursday, Shah said Bharat Taxi will significantly increase drivers’ income by offering them ownership and profit-sharing, unlike existing ride-hailing platforms.

“From today, Bharat Taxi has been commercially launched in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat. Within three years, it will expand to all states,” Shah said. “You will be the driver, and you will be the owner of the Bharat Taxi platform.”

Zero commission, driver ownership model

Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission, surge-free pricing model, with 80 per cent of earnings going directly to drivers and the remaining 20 per cent also retained under driver ownership. Payments are transferred instantly and directly into drivers’ bank accounts, with no booking fee, platform fee or hidden charges.

The platform allows customers to book cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers, positioning itself as a domestic alternative to foreign-backed ride-hailing companies such as Uber, Ola and Rapido.

Strong early adoption

More than 2.5 lakh drivers in Delhi-NCR have already joined Bharat Taxi, while over 8.5 lakh passengers have registered on the platform, according to an official statement. The service began pilot operations on December 2 in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.

Shah said rival ride-hailing platforms had reduced commissions and offered incentives following the success of Bharat Taxi’s pilot phase but stressed that no other platform offers driver ownership.

Focus on welfare, security and dignity

Shah outlined four core principles of Bharat Taxi: ownership, security cover, dignity, and fair distribution of profits. Drivers associated with the platform will receive personal accident and health insurance coverage through IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company.

Women’s safety has been prioritised through a dedicated ‘Sarathi Didi’ feature, which allows female passengers to request rides exclusively from female drivers via a separate in-app window.

Run by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd

Bharat Taxi is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd, registered on June 6, 2025, under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. The cooperative has been promoted by NCDC, IFFCO, GCMMF (Amul), KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NDDB and NCEL.

The cooperative aims to establish a sustainable, democratically owned taxi service, ensuring affordable, safe and efficient transport for passengers while providing fair income, social security and dignified livelihoods for drivers.

“The government is not entering the taxi sector — the cooperative is,” Shah said. “Perhaps for the first time in the world, the real owner is neither an individual nor a corporation, but the Sarathi who drives the taxi.”

MoUs with major institutions

Bharat Taxi has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with nine major institutions, including the Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Airports Authority of India, IFFCO Tokio Insurance and State Bank of India, to strengthen operations and safety standards.

Shah said Bharat Taxi is set to become a major welfare instrument for taxi drivers across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, as the cooperative model reshapes the country’s ride-hailing ecosystem.

PTI