1 week ago
Bharat Taxi drivers report falling earnings as bookings remain scarce
Bharat Taxi is a newer app that helps people book taxis.
Some drivers joined because they expected to earn more and become part owners.
Instead, several drivers say they receive very few rides each day.
One driver said his monthly earnings fell from about Rs 35,000 to Rs 18,000.
Other drivers said passengers cancel rides after seeing prices that are higher than competitors’ prices.
Drivers at Delhi airport also reported fewer rides and problems with the booking system.
Bharat Taxi says its fares are designed to cover drivers’ real costs and that it does not charge a percentage commission.
The company says more customers, new promotions and expansion to more cities will improve drivers’ earnings.
Delhi drivers say Bharat Taxi earnings have fallen sharply because bookings remain limited.
Bharat Taxi sources report average usage of 1.2-1.5 rides per driver daily.
Drivers blame higher fares, cancellations and technical problems for weak demand.
Delhi-NCR bookings rose from about 10,000 in February to 25,000 in August.
The company says it is expanding marketing, improving service and targeting 100-125 cities by March 2027.
- Who
- Bharat Taxi drivers, Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, and company officials including Chief Operating Officer Vivek Pandey.
- What
- Drivers report few bookings, falling earnings, high fares, customer cancellations and technical problems on the Bharat Taxi platform.
- Where
- The concerns were reported in Delhi, including Azadpur, West Delhi, Connaught Place and Indira Gandhi International Airport, as well as other Indian cities.
- When
- The app was launched more than six months before the report; Delhi-NCR bookings were compared between February and August.
- Why
- Drivers attribute weak business to limited demand, higher prices than competing apps and technical issues; the company says it is still building customer adoption.
Drivers' concerns
Bharat Taxi's response
Bookings and earnings
Drivers' concerns
Drivers say they receive roughly one or two rides a day, causing monthly earnings to fall to about Rs 15,000-18,000 for some airport drivers.
Bharat Taxi's response
The company says demand generation is its top priority and that ride volumes and daily driver allocations are steadily increasing.
Fare levels
Drivers' concerns
Drivers say customers cancel Bharat Taxi rides because they cost more than comparable rides on other apps; one comparison showed Rs 349 versus Rs 258 for an airport trip.
Bharat Taxi's response
The company says its fares are driver-friendly because they account for CNG, vehicle loan payments and maintenance costs, even if they are not the cheapest.
Fees and driver benefits
Drivers' concerns
Some drivers say their membership fees are being wasted because they receive too few bookings, while the Rs 10 or Rs 9 deductions reduce returns.
Bharat Taxi's response
Bharat Taxi says the deduction is an administrative charge rather than a commission and says drivers may receive welfare benefits, insurance, loan refinancing and dividends if the cooperative becomes profitable.
Key facts
- Driver earnings
- Chaman Lal said his monthly earnings fell from about Rs 35,000 on Uber and Rapido to roughly Rs 18,000 on Bharat Taxi.
- Average rides
- Bharat Taxi sources said drivers receive about 1.2-1.5 rides per day on average.
- Delhi-NCR bookings
- Daily bookings reportedly increased from approximately 10,000 in February to 25,000 in August.
- Registered and active drivers
- About 2.3 lakh drivers are registered in Delhi-NCR, with roughly 1.5 lakh active.
- Platform charge
- The company charges Rs 10 per booking for non-members; members paying a non-refundable Rs 500 fee have Rs 9 deducted from every four-wheeler ride.
- Current reach
- Bharat Taxi operates in 20 cities and aims to reach 100-125 cities by March 2027 and 500 cities within three years.
- Airport taxi activity
- Airport manager Shiv Shankar Sharma said roughly 2,100 black-and-yellow taxis handle 2,500-3,000 bookings daily at the airport.
Quotes
Triloki Nath
West Delhi taxi driver
“We are in 20 cities right now in Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and we want to be in 100-125 cities by March 2027”
indianexpress.com
“There’s no bookings on it, usme bhi bohut customer daam dekhke cancel kar deta hai”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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