Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-based mobility service, in Gujarat on Feb. 5, 2024 [2, 3].
The initiative seeks to shift the power dynamic of the ride-hailing industry by replacing private app-based aggregators with a driver-owned model. By establishing drivers as owners, known as "Sarathis," the government aims to curb the exploitation of workers and create a people-centric alternative to traditional corporate platforms [1, 3].
The service debuted in 14 cities across Gujarat [2, 5]. During the launch ceremony in Gandhinagar, officials said there is a growth strategy to expand the cooperative to more than 500 cities within two years [1].
Bharat Taxi is described as the world's largest cooperative cab service [3]. The platform integrates various modes of transport, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and auto-rickshaws, to provide comprehensive urban mobility [6].
Recent data indicates the platform has scaled rapidly since its inception. The service now reports more than 35 lakh users [4] and a fleet of six lakh drivers [4]. This scale allows the cooperative to challenge the market dominance of private entities while maintaining a structure where the workers hold equity in the service they operate [3, 4].
The rollout in Gujarat serves as a blueprint for the national expansion. By leveraging the cooperative framework, the government intends to ensure that a larger share of the revenue remains with the drivers, rather than being diverted to corporate commissions [1].
“The initiative seeks to shift the power dynamic of the ride-hailing industry by replacing private app-based aggregators with a driver-owned model.”
The launch of Bharat Taxi represents a state-backed attempt to disrupt the gig economy's current corporate structure. By utilizing a cooperative model, the Indian government is attempting to institutionalize labor protections and wealth distribution directly into the business architecture of urban transport, potentially reducing the reliance of millions of drivers on volatile private algorithms and commission fees.
