Amit Shah Launches Cooperative-Based Bharat Taxi Platform in Gujarat
Gandhinagar, June 27 (TNT): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched the cooperative-based mobility platform ‘Bharat Taxi’ in Gujarat, saying the initiative would empower taxi, auto-rickshaw and two-wheeler drivers by making them stakeholders in a cooperative model while ensuring affordable and reliable transport services for commuters.
The platform was launched at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, Cooperation Minister Jitubhai Vaghani, Minister of State for Cooperation Rameshbhai Katara and senior government officials.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said Bharat Taxi would treat drivers as “Sarathis” and make them owners in the cooperative rather than merely service providers.
He said the initiative aims to eliminate exploitation of drivers and customers by ensuring transparent operations, fair commissions and timely payments.
The Union Minister said more than seven lakh Sarathis have already joined the platform, while nearly 37 lakh customers have availed its services.
Shah said the cooperative model would also provide Sarathis with access to loans, insurance and business expansion opportunities in the future.
He said Bharat Taxi has been backed by leading cooperative institutions, including NCDC, NABARD, NDDB, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NCEL and Amul, to build a sustainable alternative to private app-based mobility platforms.
Referring to competition from existing taxi aggregators, Shah alleged that some companies were temporarily reducing fares and offering higher commissions to retain market share.
However, he asserted that Bharat Taxi would continue to expand with a focus on service, transparency and cooperation.
The Home Minister announced that Bharat Taxi would expand to more than 500 cities and towns across the country over the next two years, covering taxi, auto-rickshaw and two-wheeler services.
The platform is expected to begin operations in seven major cities before July 31, 2026, followed by expansion to cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Kolkata.
Shah said the initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) and would strengthen the cooperative movement while ensuring long-term income security and dignity for Sarathis.
On the occasion, memoranda of understanding were signed with several organisations, including the Airports Authority of India, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Adani Airport, Gujarat Traffic Police and Western Railway, to facilitate the expansion of Bharat Taxi services. Share certificates were also distributed to top-performing Sarathis.
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