New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will launch Bharat Taxi, the country’s first cooperation-based taxi service, in Gujarat on June 27. The launch will take place at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar and marks a major step in expanding the cooperative model to the transport sector.
The driver-owned digital mobility platform follows the principle of “Saarthi Hi Maalik,” under which taxi drivers become service providers as well as platform owners. Consequently, they receive economic benefits, social security and ownership rights through the cooperative structure.
Bharat Taxi began operations through a soft launch in Gujarat in December 2025. Since then, more than 1.5 lakh Saarthis from Gujarat and over 37 lakh customers across India have joined the platform. At present, the service completes more than 3,500 rides every day.
More than 4,000 Saarthis, senior cooperative leaders and government officials will attend the launch programme. During the event, the organisers will honour top-performing Saarthis with share certificates. They will also exchange Memorandums of Understanding with partner institutions.
Bharat Taxi to expand across Gujarat
Initially, Bharat Taxi will operate in 14 major cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Dwarka. Moreover, the cooperative plans to extend services across Gujarat within the next month.
The platform operates under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and follows a zero-commission model. Therefore, drivers retain the maximum share of their earnings. In addition, Saarthis receive insurance, loans, pension benefits and access to government social security schemes.
For passengers, Bharat Taxi offers surge-free pricing, multiple travel options such as bikes, autos and cabs, and safety features developed in partnership with Gujarat Police.
Supported by eight leading cooperative institutions, including NCDC, Amul, NABARD, IFFCO, KRIBHCO and NAFED, Bharat Taxi aims to expand across all states and major cities. The initiative seeks to build an inclusive, self-reliant and cooperation-based mobility ecosystem nationwide.
