India’s roads to welcome Bharat Taxi: Transparent fares, no surge pricing in this government-backed cab revolution |
Good news for people of India! In a bid to make city travel easy-on-pocket and save commuters from price surge, the Indian government has announced plans to launch Bharat Taxi. This is a welcoming and much-needed move for daily commuters who were irritated with price surge and other issues related with private firms. What is Bharat TaxiBharat Taxi is a government-backed initiative which is developed under the Union Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). This is the country’s first cooperative taxi service which will allow drivers to become co-owners and shareholders giving them more power. As per reports, its pilot phase in Delhi will be launched in November.Here, the cab drivers will get 100% of their earnings, so no commission-based system that exists in other private ride-hailing platforms. It will also give commuters affordable fares. Saarthis and no driver bhaiyaThe drivers of the Bharat Taxis would be called Saarthis (charioteer). The pilot phase of Bharat Taxi starts in Delhi in November 2025 and some 650 driver-owners are expected to be a part of it. The service aims to begin in other cities across India by December 2025. Prime features
Driver-owned cabs: This is the best part as drivers can buy shares. They can become members of the cooperative which will allow them more power, voice and transparency. No Commission: Unlike other can platforms which deduct a significant percentage from fares, Bharat Taxi will give drivers the full amount. There won’t be any commission cut.Transparent Pricing: There won’t be any surge pricing. Passengers can expect fair and predictable rates.Digital Integration: The service is integrated with platforms like DigiLocker and UMANG. Criticism for app-based taxi servicesThere have been frequent complaints about app-based taxi services. These firms have long been criticised by both riders and drivers. Commuters have complained about smelly vehicles, rude drivers, shocking fare surges, and last-minute ride cancellations. While drivers of these app-based cabs also struggle with heavy commission, and no transparency, among other issues.Government’s vision
As per the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the launch of Bharat Taxi aligns with the government’s vision of promoting cooperative enterprises under the “Sahakar se Samriddhi”. This initiative will empower drivers, ensuring equitable distribution of profits. Bharat Taxi represents a major shift in India’s cab-hailing industry. It will only focus on driver’s benefit without burdening daily commuters with unnecessary price surges. Now all eyes are on Delhi to see how this government model performs on the real roads.
