Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday launched the cooperative-based mobility platform Bharat Taxi in Gujarat, describing it as a transformative initiative that aims to empower drivers through ownership while offering reliable and affordable transport services to commuters.
The platform was launched at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar. Bharat Taxi services have commenced across major cities of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot, covering two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and four-wheelers.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah said the initiative is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” and seeks to extend the cooperative movement to the mobility sector.
He said Bharat Taxi differs from private ride-hailing platforms by treating drivers as “Sarathis” and making them shareholders in the cooperative instead of merely service providers.
The Home Minister said more than seven lakh Sarathis have already joined Bharat Taxi, while nearly 37 lakh customers have availed its services, reflecting growing public trust in the platform.
Referring to competition from private app-based companies, Shah alleged that some operators had temporarily reduced fares and increased driver commissions to counter Bharat Taxi’s expansion. He said such strategies were unsustainable and urged Sarathis and customers to support the cooperative model for long-term benefits rather than short-term gains.
“Bharat Taxi will neither tire, nor step back, nor leave the field. It will continue to move forward with the spirit of service and cooperation,” he said.
Highlighting the benefits of the cooperative model, the Home Minister said Bharat Taxi would provide support to Sarathis through loans, insurance and business expansion opportunities in addition to ensuring fair earnings and greater dignity.
Drawing parallels with successful cooperative institutions such as Amul, IFFCO and KRIBHCO, Shah said the cooperative model has previously transformed sectors like dairy and fertilisers by eliminating exploitation and ensuring equitable benefits for members. He expressed confidence that Bharat Taxi would achieve similar success in the mobility sector.
The Home Minister said Bharat Taxi plans to expand its operations to more than 500 cities and towns across India within the next two years. Before July 31, the platform is expected to launch services in seven major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Kolkata.
During the event, Bharat Taxi signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with several organisations, including the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Gujarat Traffic Police, Western Railway, the Airports Authority of India and airport operators, to strengthen service integration across airports, metro networks, railways and urban transport systems. Share certificates were also distributed to outstanding Sarathis.
