Bharat Taxi Registers 8 Lakh Drivers, 41 Lakh Customers; Plans Nationwide Expansion By 2029

New Delhi, Aug 17: Bharat Taxi, India's inaugural cooperative-led ride-hailing service, has registered around 8 lakh drivers and approximately 41 lakh customers since its inception on July 25, with the aim of achieving nationwide expansion by 2029, as per an official fact sheet. The cooperative was established under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act of 2002 and was founded by eight prominent cooperatives, including NABARD, IFFCO, Amul, NAFED, and NCDC.

Operating on a zero-commission model, drivers, known as Sarathis, retain their fare earnings while being member-owners of the cooperative. Currently active in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kanpur, and Pune, Bharat Taxi plans to expand its operations to Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore, and Nagpur in the near future.

The cooperative model grants drivers a stake in both ownership and governance, with Sarathis eligible to become member-owners by purchasing shares and gaining representation on the board through reserved seats. The platform offers diverse ride categories, such as bike taxis, autos, economy cabs, premium sedans, SUVs, rentals, outstation travel, and scheduled rides.

Bharat Taxi is committed to transparent pricing and eliminates surge fares and additional platform charges. Additionally, it has implemented women-focused initiatives like Sarathi Didi, enabling women passengers to select female drivers, and Bike Didi, encouraging more women to participate in the transport sector. The company has integrated its services with various government digital platforms, including DigiLocker, UMANG, and API Setu, via a partnership with the National e-Governance Division under the Digital India initiative.

Collaborations with entities like the Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, State Bank of India, Paytm, and IFFCO Tokio Insurance further enhance service delivery, digital payments, and insurance coverage. Drivers registered with Bharat Taxi can access e-Shram portal registration, granting them access to social security benefits, and receive additional accident and health insurance support through partner institutions.

The platform is endorsed by the Ministry of Cooperation's cooperative-driven business model promotion efforts and seeks to blend digital mobility services with democratic ownership and shared economic participation.