The Government of India has introduced Bharat Taxi, described as the country’s first ride-hailing platform operating under a cooperative model. Unlike conventional app-based aggregators such as Uber, Ola and Rapido, the new platform is designed to function without charging commission from drivers.
Under the initiative, drivers—referred to as Sarathis—operate on a zero-commission structure, allowing them to retain a larger share of their earnings. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah met Bharat Taxi drivers in New Delhi on Monday, February 23, during a 40-minute interaction. He said drivers can participate in the platform’s growth by investing Rs 500, emphasising that the ownership model differs from private aggregators. “The purpose of running those companies is to make the owners rich. Our purpose is also to make the owners rich. The only difference is that you are the owner,” he said.
Bharat Taxi follows a fixed-fare system without surge pricing, ensuring consistent rates even during peak hours or adverse weather conditions. During periods of high demand, fares are projected to be up to 30 percent lower than competing services. The platform also offers transparent pricing, multilingual support, real-time vehicle tracking and 24/7 customer assistance.
Safety measures include verified drivers and coordination with the Delhi Police and other authorities to ensure secure travel for passengers and drivers.
Passengers can choose from AC, Premium, non-AC and XL categories. The service aims to provide quick pickups, often within two minutes, while maintaining competitive pricing.
The base fare is set at Rs 30 for distances up to 4 km. Trips between 4 and 12 km are charged at Rs 23 per km, while rides beyond 12 km are priced at Rs 18 per km.
Initially, the service will operate at 10 metro stations across the National Capital Region, including New Delhi, Kashmere Gate, Millennium City Centre Gurugram, Botanical Garden, Lajpat Nagar, Vaishali, Hauz Khas, Sikandarpur, Rajiv Chowk and Noida Sector 62. Services have also been rolled out in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath and Dwarka.
