Amit Shah Launches ‘Bharat Taxi’, the World’s Largest Driver-Owned Cooperative Mobility Platform

In a landmark step towards strengthening India's cooperative movement and empowering millions of transport workers, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah officially launched ‘Bharat Taxi’, the world’s largest driver-owned cooperative mobility organisation. The grand launch ceremony was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, senior ministers, cooperative leaders, and more than 4,000 Bharat Taxi Sarathis.

The launch marks a significant milestone in India's mobility sector, introducing a cooperative model where drivers are no longer just service providers but co-owners of the platform. Inspired by the success of cooperative giants such as Amul and IFFCO, Bharat Taxi aims to create a fair, transparent, and driver-centric ecosystem while delivering safe and affordable transportation to passengers.

A New Era of Cooperative Mobility

Addressing the gathering, Shri Amit Shah described Bharat Taxi as a historic initiative that brings Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" to life. He said the platform represents a transformational shift in the transportation sector by replacing the traditional employer-driver relationship with a cooperative ownership model.

Unlike private app-based taxi services, where drivers often work under high commission structures and have limited decision-making power, Bharat Taxi recognises vehicle operators as "Sarathis"—partners, shareholders, and co-owners of the organisation.

According to Shri Amit Shah, this approach will ensure dignity, financial security, and long-term prosperity for millions of transport workers across India.

Over 7 Lakh Sarathis Already Connected

Highlighting the overwhelming response to the initiative, Shri Amit Shah revealed that more than 7 lakh Sarathis from across the country have already joined Bharat Taxi by purchasing cooperative shares worth just ₹100.

He noted that the cooperative ownership model enables drivers to participate not only in providing services but also in sharing the organisation's long-term growth and success.

Drawing inspiration from Amul's remarkable journey, Shri Amit Shah recalled how thousands of dairy farmers who initially invested only ₹100 eventually became part of one of the world's most successful cooperative enterprises. He expressed confidence that Bharat Taxi would follow a similar path and become a symbol of empowerment for India's transport community.

Ending Exploitation by Private Platforms

During his address, Shri Amit Shah criticised the practices of several private app-based mobility companies, stating that many drivers have faced high commissions, arbitrary account suspensions, and limited opportunities for growth.

He said Bharat Taxi has been created to eliminate such challenges by ensuring transparency, fairness, and equal participation. Instead of merely working for a company, Sarathis become stakeholders in the cooperative itself.

He also observed that some private companies are temporarily lowering fares to discourage Bharat Taxi's expansion but asserted that the cooperative model, driven by public participation and trust, would ultimately succeed.

Strong Cooperative Support

Bharat Taxi has received financial and institutional support from some of India's leading cooperative organisations, including NCDC, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NDDB, NABARD, and Amul.

In addition, the platform has partnered with the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Gujarat Traffic Police, Western Railway, Airports Authority of India, and several other institutions to strengthen its services and improve connectivity for commuters.

During the event, multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with these organisations to further expand Bharat Taxi's operational network.

Expansion Across India

Currently, Bharat Taxi services have commenced in 14 major cities of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Dwarka, Somnath, Junagadh, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Valsad, and Amreli.

Shri Amit Shah announced that the platform will expand to more than 500 large and small cities across India over the next two years, covering cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

The expansion is expected to make Bharat Taxi one of India's largest cooperative mobility networks while creating new employment opportunities for drivers nationwide.

Empowering Drivers with Ownership and Dignity

One of the defining features of Bharat Taxi is its emphasis on dignity of labour. Drivers are no longer viewed simply as service providers but as Sarathis, reflecting respect, ownership, and self-reliance.

The initiative also plans to introduce the 'Sarathi Didi' programme, encouraging women to join the platform as drivers while enhancing passenger safety and creating new employment opportunities for women.

A Historic Cooperative Initiative

The launch of Bharat Taxi represents far more than the introduction of another ride-hailing service. It reflects a broader vision of making cooperative institutions relevant in emerging sectors such as mobility while ensuring that those who contribute their hard work also become partners in the platform's success.

With more than seven lakh Sarathis already onboard, support from India's leading cooperative institutions, and an ambitious expansion plan covering over 500 cities, Bharat Taxi has the potential to redefine India's transportation ecosystem.

Under the leadership of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the initiative is expected to strengthen the cooperative movement, empower transport workers, and create a mobility platform built on ownership, transparency, and inclusive growth.