Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched Bharat Taxi, a ride-hailing application positioned as India’s first mobility platform based on a cooperative model and backed by the government.
The platform, supported by the Ministry of Cooperation and operated by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited, is being introduced as an alternative to established app-based transport services such as Uber, Ola and Rapido. The initiative aims to promote a driver-owned mobility service where earnings flow directly to drivers during the initial phase.
According to the Ministry of Cooperation, the application follows a zero-commission structure at launch, ensuring that 100 per cent of ride payments go directly to drivers, referred to as “Sarathis”. The ministry said the cooperative framework is intended to reduce dependence on aggregator-based models that drivers have previously described as exploitative.
Fare rates announced for the service include a minimum charge of ₹30 for distances up to 4 kilometres. Trips between 4 and 12 kilometres are priced at ₹23 per kilometre, while journeys exceeding 12 kilometres are charged at ₹18 per kilometre.
Bharat Taxi also incorporates integration with public transportation systems such as Metro networks, allowing users to plan multimodal journeys within a single application. The app’s design aims to facilitate combined travel options similar to other mobility aggregators.
Officials indicated that while the platform currently follows a zero-commission approach, the cooperative may introduce a service charge of around 20 per cent in a later phase. The ministry stated that any such fee would be redistributed to drivers in the form of incentives rather than retained as corporate profit.
The platform intends to avoid surge pricing practices commonly associated with ride-hailing services, although dynamic pricing may be introduced under specific circumstances.
Data shared by the Ministry of Cooperation shows increasing user engagement ahead of the official launch. The app has reportedly seen daily registrations of approximately 40,000 to 45,000 new users over the past two days. Earlier, a January post by the ministry on social media platform X indicated that Bharat Taxi had crossed four lakh registered customers.
The application is currently available on both Android and iOS platforms. It was ranked ninth on the Google Play Store and thirteenth on Apple’s App Store at the time of reporting.
Safety features built into the app include the ability for users to alert emergency contacts, connect directly with a safety response team, and activate an in-app siren. The registration process requires basic details such as a mobile number, name and email address.
The service also plans designated pickup and drop zones at airports, similar to existing ride-hailing platforms, with future expansion proposed to other transport hubs.
