Bharat Taxi to expand to 500 cities in two years, services in 7 major cities by July 31: Amit Shah

Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-based mobility platform, in Gujarat, with services beginning in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and other major cities across two-wheeler, auto-rickshaw and cab segments.

Addressing the launch event, Shah said Bharat Taxi would expand to more than 500 cities and towns over the next two years, with operations set to commence in seven major cities before July 31.

The minister said the platform has been designed to provide drivers, referred to as ‘Sarathis’, with ownership, dignity, security and improved earnings. According to him, over seven lakh Sarathis have already joined the initiative, while nearly 37 lakh customers have availed of its services.

Highlighting the cooperative model, Shah said Sarathis are not merely drivers but shareholders in the platform. “The objective is to eliminate exploitation, ensure fair income and provide long-term support through loans, insurance and business expansion opportunities,” he said.

Shah also alleged that rival ride-hailing companies were temporarily reducing fares and offering higher commissions to stall Bharat Taxi’s growth, but asserted that the cooperative platform would continue to expand.

During the event, Bharat Taxi signed MoUs with Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, traffic police authorities, airports and Western Railway to strengthen its operations and service network.