Amit Shah Launches Bharat Taxi, India's First Driver-Owned Platform

In a significant push to extend the cooperative movement into the digital economy, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday launched Bharat Taxi , India's first cooperative-based, driver-owned ride-hailing platform, in Gujarat. The initiative aims to empower drivers through ownership, social security and better earnings while offering passengers affordable and reliable mobility services.

Launched at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, the platform is based on the principle of "Saarthi Hi Maalik" (The Driver is the Owner) and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" . More than 4,000 Saarthis (drivers) participated in the event, which was also attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel , senior government officials and cooperative sector representatives.

Operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited , Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and is backed by eight leading cooperative institutions, including Amul, NABARD, IFFCO, NAFED, NDDB and NCDC . The platform represents one of the country's most ambitious efforts to bring the cooperative model to the rapidly growing gig economy.

A major highlight of Bharat Taxi is its zero-commission model , allowing drivers to retain a larger share of their earnings. Unlike conventional ride-hailing platforms, drivers are not just service providers but stakeholders in the cooperative. They are also eligible for benefits such as insurance, loans, pensions and government social security schemes .

The service has already gained considerable traction. According to official figures, more than 1.5 lakh Saarthis from Gujarat have joined the platform, while over 37 lakh customers across India have availed its services. More than 3,500 rides are being completed daily .

Bharat Taxi is currently operational in 14 major cities of Gujarat , including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, with plans to expand across the state within a month before a nationwide rollout.

With India's gig workforce expected to exceed 20 million by 2030 , Bharat Taxi is being seen as a pioneering experiment in creating a cooperative alternative to private ride-hailing giants. By combining technology with collective ownership, the initiative seeks to ensure that the benefits of the digital economy flow directly to drivers, making them partners in growth rather than merely participants.