Bharat Taxi to launch in India soon, here’s everything you need to know about it
The government is preparing to launch Bharat Taxi in India soon. Launched by the Ministry of Cooperation, the government-backed service aims to challenge existing private taxi aggregators by offering drivers insurance coverage, advertising opportunities and a profit-first model designed to improve their overall earnings and well-being.
The Indian government is all set to launch a new ride-hailing platform called Bharat Taxi. Led by the Ministry of Cooperation, the service is being offered as a fair, zero-commission alternative to existing private cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, with a focus on providing better earnings, insurance coverage and additional income opportunities to drivers, as well as a more transparent and predictable ride experience to passengers. The platform is expected to go live in the coming months.
The launch of this government-backed ride-hailing service was recently confirmed by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, who said that Bharat Taxi could launch within the next one or two months. Speaking at a conference organized by Krishak Bharti Cooperative Limited in Panchkula, Shah revealed that the new platform aims to address long-standing grievances among cab drivers, especially regarding income distribution on private ride-hailing apps.
Why is Bharat Taxi being launched?
The main idea behind Bharat Taxi is to tackle the persistent complaints that private taxi aggregators keep a significant portion of ride fares, giving drivers a smaller share of their earnings. The service is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, an entity backed by some of the most reputed cooperative institutions of India including Amul, IFFCO and NABARD. The Government of India is the main promoter of this initiative.
Under Bharat Taxi, the government says the entire profit from rides will go directly to the drivers. “Many companies operate taxi services in the country, but the profits go to the owners instead of the drivers. Under the initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation, ‘Bharat Taxi’ will be launched soon and the entire profit will go to our driver brothers,” Shah said, The New Indian Express reported.
How will Bharat Taxi be different?
Unlike private aggregators, Bharat Taxi is being designed as a driver-centric platform. According to the government, the service will reduce or eliminate middlemen, allowing drivers to keep the full earnings of their work.
Apart from higher take-home income, the government has also outlined plans to offer insurance coverage to India taxi drivers. This is seen as a major benefit in a region where many drivers lack formal social security or protection.
Additionally, drivers will be allowed to display advertisements on their taxis. According to Shah, this will create an additional source of income apart from ride fares, which will further improve the financial stability of drivers.
It appears that this model is already becoming popular among drivers. Within days of its announcement, Bharat Taxi reportedly saw registration of over 51,000 drivers.
What does this mean for travelers
While the government is promising driver welfare at the center of this new ride-hailing service, it has also promised to ensure convenience and confidence for passengers. Bharat Taxi is promising a more transparent fare structure, with an emphasis on reducing or eliminating surge pricing, which is often a problem for users of existing apps, especially during peak hours or emergencies.
The platform will also provide real-time vehicle tracking, ride-sharing details with friends and family, and a 24×7 customer support system to handle complaints and queries. Security has also been kept as the main focus, this new ride hailing platform is expected to be integrated with local law enforcement agencies like Delhi Police, and drivers will have to undergo proper verification before being onboarded.
It is noteworthy that the beta version of the app is already available on Android and iOS in select areas like Delhi and parts of Gujarat. Although not officially confirmed, future tie-ups with platforms like DigiLocker are also expected for more simplified verification and documentation.
