Bharat Taxi is preparing for a nationwide rollout by the end of January, positioning itself as a driver-centric, cooperative-led alternative to established ride-hailing services. The platform emphasises fair earnings, transparent pricing and community ownership as it seeks to expand beyond an encouraging pilot in Delhi.
Early traction from Delhi pilot
During its soft launch in Delhi, Bharat Taxi reported handling thousands of rides daily across airport transfers and key urban corridors. The service supports multiple vehicle categories—four-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and bike taxis—targeting diverse commuter needs and peak demand segments.
Driver registration has been a notable early indicator of interest. More than one lakh drivers have signed up on the platform, reflecting demand for an alternative to commission-heavy models. Organisers say feedback from the pilot has helped refine operations ahead of a phased roll-out to additional cities.
Zero-commission model and cooperative structure
Bharat Taxi’s principal differentiator is its zero-commission policy: drivers retain the full fare rather than surrendering 20–30% per trip to the platform. The model aims to improve take-home earnings and ease financial pressure from rising fuel and maintenance costs.
The service is run by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited and supported by prominent cooperative institutions. The initiative aligns with government emphasis on strengthening the cooperative sector, a point highlighted by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah during the project’s announcement.
Passenger features and safety commitments
The app promises clear, upfront pricing without sudden surge charges, alongside features common to organised mobility services such as real-time vehicle tracking, verified driver profiles and multilingual support. Basic safety tools—like sharing trip details with trusted contacts—are integrated, and Bharat Taxi says it will coordinate with local authorities to enhance commuter safety in major urban centres.
Potential impact on India’s mobility ecosystem
By combining cooperative ownership with app-based technology, Bharat Taxi introduces a different competitive dynamic to a market dominated by a few private players. If the zero-commission, driver-first model proves economically sustainable at scale, it could shift expectations around transparency and fairness for both drivers and passengers.
Stakeholders will watch closely as operations expand after the January launch to see whether Bharat Taxi can scale beyond initial markets and sustain long-term growth in India’s rapidly evolving ride-hailing landscape.
