The government of India is working to expand Bharat Taxi to over 500 cities, including Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata, in the time frame of the next two years, as announced by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday while addressing a gathering at the official launch of Bharat Taxi services in 14 cities of Gujarat.
Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led, driver-owned ride-hailing service, launched to provide a fairer alternative to traditional aggregators. Backed by the Central government and major cooperatives, it operates on a zero-commission model where drivers are platform owners and keep the full fare.
"Within the next two years, Bharat Taxi plans to expand to over 500 cities, including Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata," Shah said.
Taxi drivers connected to this platform would no longer be mere drivers but "Sarathis" and co-owners, he said.
Bharat Taxi's vision extends beyond transport services, Shah said, adding that in the coming years, it will facilitate low-interest loans, provide insurance support to the families of Sarathis, and financially assist them in expanding their businesses.
Over 7,00,000 Sarathis across the country have become co-owner shareholders of Bharat Taxi by purchasing Rs 100 shares, he said.
The cooperative model not only offers customers safe and reasonably priced transportation but also guarantees dignity, security, and prosperity for the drivers, the minister added.