Amit Shah Launches Bharat Taxi Services in Pune, Says Drivers Will Become Owners Under Cooperative Model
Pune, 15th November 2026: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday launched Bharat Taxi services in Pune, promoting the cooperative-based taxi platform as an alternative to existing app-based cab aggregators. He said the initiative aims to end the commission-based system and enable drivers to become owners of the company.
Speaking at the launch event in Pune, Shah said taxi drivers working with several private companies had long faced deductions from their earnings in the form of commissions, affecting their take-home income.
He said Bharat Taxi had been developed under a cooperative model to address this issue and provide drivers with a greater stake in the business.
Under the model, drivers, referred to as ‘Sarathis’, will become members and owners of the cooperative rather than functioning merely as drivers associated with a private platform.
Shah said the system would ensure transparency, with the entire earnings of Sarathis being transferred directly to their bank accounts without commission deductions.
During the programme, share certificates were also presented to Bharat Taxi Sarathis, marking their participation in the cooperative ownership structure.
Shah said the service would be expanded to other cities, including Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur and Solapur, after its launch in Pune. He said the cooperative-based platform should provide drivers with greater financial independence and create a more equitable system in the transport sector.
Nearly 32,000 Sarathis connected with Bharat Taxi in Pune
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said nearly 32,000 Sarathis were connected with Bharat Taxi in Pune. She also said the service had been made available for travel between Mumbai and Pune.
Pawar highlighted the initiative’s potential to increase women’s participation in the transport sector through a facility called ‘Sarathi Didi’, aimed at women drivers. She also referred to health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for eligible drivers registered on the e-Shram portal.
Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said Bharat Taxi had recorded approximately 10 lakh registered Sarathis and 60 lakh registered customers nationally, with around 20,000 rides taking place daily, according to the report.
Cooperative model aims to challenge private aggregators
Bharat Taxi operates through Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a multi-state cooperative society. Unlike conventional ride-hailing platforms, where drivers primarily function as service providers, the cooperative model gives them an opportunity to participate in the ownership and functioning of the enterprise.
The initiative is part of the Centre’s broader efforts to extend the cooperative model into new sectors and create additional livelihood opportunities.
The Pune launch marks another step in expanding cooperative-based transport services, with its success likely to depend on driver participation, passenger adoption, service availability and the platform’s ability to compete with established ride-hailing companies.
