Indian government launches ‘Bharat Taxi’, India’s first cooperative cab service to rival commercial players

To tackle growing complaints over private taxi services like Ola and Uber — from excessive fares to frequent ride cancellations — the Central government has launched Bharat Taxi, a cooperative, government-backed cab service.

The initiative aims to provide a fairer system for both drivers and passengers. Unlike private cab platforms, Bharat Taxi will not charge any commission from drivers, allowing them to retain their full earnings. This model is expected to attract more drivers to the platform, posing a strong challenge to existing ride-hailing giants.

India’s first cooperative taxi service begins pilot in Delhi

Bharat Taxi will be India’s first cooperative (co-op) taxi service. While a full-scale rollout is scheduled for December, a pilot project will begin in November in the national capital with 650 drivers and vehicles. By December, the service is expected to expand to several other cities, onboarding around 5,000 drivers.

Backed by the Ministry of Cooperation and NeGD

Developed jointly by the Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Bharat Taxi operates under Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, established in June with a capital of ₹300 crore. The model is cooperative in nature, making every driver a co-owner.

The cooperative will be managed by a council chaired by Amul’s Managing Director, Jayen Mehta, with NCDC’s Deputy Managing Director, Rohit Gupta, as Vice Chairman. Eight additional members from various cooperative bodies across the country have also been appointed. The board held its first meeting on October 16.

Simple app-based service in multiple languages

Much like existing private cab apps, users can book rides through the Bharat Taxi mobile app — available in Hindi, English, Gujarati, and Marathi — on both Android and iOS platforms.

The service runs on a membership-based model instead of per-ride commissions. Drivers will pay a nominal daily, weekly, or monthly membership fee, while keeping 100% of their ride income.

Initially launching in Delhi, Bharat Taxi will gradually expand to Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal, Lucknow, and Jaipur among 20 cities.

Expansion roadmap through 2030

• Dec 2025 – Mar 2026: Multi-state operations begin in Rajkot, Mumbai, and Pune with 5,000 drivers.
• Apr – Dec 2026: Expansion to Lucknow, Bhopal, and Jaipur, with 15,000 drivers and 10,000 vehicles.
• 2027–28: Pan-India availability across 20 cities with 50,000 drivers; integration with FASTag.
• 2028–2030: Expansion to district headquarters and rural areas, aiming to reach 1 lakh drivers.

The cooperative model marks a new phase in India’s transport sector — one that promises fair pay for drivers, transparent pricing for riders, and a sustainable alternative to profit-driven taxi aggregators.