3 weeks ago
Bharat Taxi alternative, not replacement, for Ola, Uber: Amit Shah
India has a new ride-hailing app called Bharat Taxi.
Instead of being owned by one big company, it is run by a cooperative, where drivers work together as a team.
India's cooperation minister, Amit Shah, told Parliament that the app is not trying to beat popular apps like Ola and Uber.
He said it is just meant to be another choice for riders.
The government says it did not give any money to start the app.
Instead, eight big national cooperative organisations help support it.
Before drivers can join, the app checks them and their vehicles to keep riders safe.
Riders can press an SOS button and share their trip details with family if they need help.
The app already works in places like Delhi-NCR, Gujarat and Maharashtra, with more than eight lakh drivers registered.
Over time, it wants to connect with airports, railway stations and metro systems.
In a written Lok Sabha reply on 4 August, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said Bharat Taxi aims to be an alternative, not a replacement, for private taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber.
The cooperative-led platform is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), a Multi-State Cooperative Society registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
Shah said the government has provided no financial assistance, equity support or incentives for Bharat Taxi, which is backed by eight national cooperative institutions.
Bharat Taxi is currently active in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh, covering cab, auto and bike categories.
As of 28 July 2026, the platform has registered 8.27 lakh Sarathis, with Delhi-NCR alone accounting for 2.61 lakh drivers.
- Who
- Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah and Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), which operates Bharat Taxi.
- What
- The government clarified that Bharat Taxi, India's cooperative-led taxi platform, is an alternative—not a replacement—for private app-based taxi aggregators, and detailed its safety features, fare framework and expansion plans.
- Where
- India; the platform currently operates in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh.
- When
- The written reply was made in the Lok Sabha on 4 August; driver registration data is as of 28 July 2026.
- Why
- To provide a driver-centric and people-centric mobility platform based on the cooperative model, improving the economic and social well-being of drivers (Sarathis).
Backers of the cooperative model
Skeptics and private-app advocates
Will Bharat Taxi displace Ola and Uber?
Backers of the cooperative model
Bharat Taxi, backed by eight national cooperative institutions, presents a driver-centric alternative intended to improve drivers' economic and social well-being.
Skeptics and private-app advocates
The framing of the announcement—'Bharat Taxi to not kill Ola, Uber'—reflects concerns that the cooperative platform could displace private aggregators like Ola and Uber; Shah insists its objective is not to replace them.
Pricing model: fixed fares vs surge pricing
Backers of the cooperative model
Related coverage reports Bharat Taxi launches with fixed fares and a driver-owned model, raising the possibility of no more surge pricing in cities such as Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Skeptics and private-app advocates
The minister says fares are set through a transparent framework considering state transport authorities, Sarathi representatives and operational costs, and can be revised based on local transport conditions.
Key facts
- Platform
- Bharat Taxi – cooperative-led taxi app operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL)
- Key official
- Amit Shah, Union Minister of Cooperation
- Government funding
- None – no financial assistance, equity support or incentives, per Amit Shah
- Backing institutions
- Eight national cooperatives: NCDC, IFFCO, Amul (GCMMF), KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NDDB, NCEL
- Current regions
- Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh
- Vehicle categories
- Cab, auto, bike
- Registered Sarathis
- 8.27 lakh as of 28 July 2026 (2.61 lakh in Delhi-NCR)
- Safety features
- SOS button, journey sharing with trusted contacts, encrypted customer data under DPDP Act 2023 and IT Act 2000
Quotes
Amit Shah
Union Minister of Cooperation, India
“"The objective of Bharat Taxi is not to replace any private app-based taxi aggregators; rather, it aims to provide an alternative driver-centric and people-centric mobility platform based on the cooperative model."”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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