Bharat Taxi to cover 500 cities in 2 years, Shah launches Gujarat ops
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah formally launched Bharat Taxi in Gujarat on 27 June, pledging to take the cooperative ride-hailing platform to over 500 cities within two years. With seven lakh driver-shareholders already enrolled and seven major cities — including Mumbai and Kolkata — targeted before 31 July, Bharat Taxi is positioning itself as a state-backed cooperative challenger to Ola and Uber.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah formally launched Bharat Taxi in Gujarat on 27 June .
The platform targets expansion to more than 500 cities and towns across India within one and a half to two years .
Approximately seven lakh Sarathis (driver-members) are already enrolled as shareholders in the cooperative.
Seven cities — Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata — are set to come online before 31 July .
The model is rooted in PM Modi's 'Prosperity through Cooperation' framework, with drivers holding equity rather than operating as gig contractors.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, 27 June formally launched Bharat Taxi in Gujarat, announcing that the cooperative mobility platform would expand to more than 500 cities and towns across India within the next one and a half to two years. The launch marks the beginning of full-scale commercial operations across all major cities in the state, spanning two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, and four-wheelers.
What Was Launched and Where
Speaking at the launch event in Gandhinagar, Shah confirmed that Bharat Taxi had already been operating on a trial basis in select locations before Saturday's formal rollout. 'Today it has been formally launched in Gujarat. From today, Bharat Taxi has officially commenced operations in all the major cities of Gujarat in all three categories, two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and four-wheelers,' he said.
The platform currently has approximately seven lakh enrolled driver-members — referred to as 'Sarathis' — who hold shareholder status within the cooperative structure, distinguishing the model from conventional gig-economy ride-hailing platforms where drivers operate as independent contractors.
Expansion Roadmap: Seven Cities by July 31
Shah laid out a near-term expansion plan, naming seven cities where Bharat Taxi is expected to begin operations before 31 July. 'We will reach Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Kolkata. Before July 31, Bharat Taxi will have reached all seven of these locations,' he stated.
The longer-term target is a nationwide footprint. 'Very soon...I want to say from this stage today, within one and a half to two years, we will reach more than 500 cities, and there will hardly be any place left. We will reach everywhere,' Shah emphasised.
The Cooperative Model at Its Core
Shah positioned Bharat Taxi as a direct expression of the cooperative movement championed by the Ministry of Cooperation, which he heads alongside the Home Ministry. He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stated principle of 'Prosperity through Cooperation' as the ideological foundation of the initiative.
'Our beloved leader and the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi, gave us the mantra of Prosperity through Cooperation. To realise that mantra in the fields of mobility and transportation, the cooperative movement is today expanding its reach,' he noted.
Addressing newly enrolled Sarathis from Gujarat, Shah said their membership guaranteed not just income but equity and dignity: 'By joining this, you have paved the way for your prosperity, your dignity and your security.'
What This Means for India's Ride-Hailing Sector
Bharat Taxi enters a market dominated by privately held platforms such as Ola and Uber, where driver welfare and earnings have been a persistent point of friction. The cooperative shareholding model — if executed at scale — could offer drivers a structural alternative, with profit-sharing rather than commission-based earnings. Notably, this is not the first cooperative mobility initiative in India, but it is the first with explicit backing from a Union Cabinet minister at launch.
The platform's ability to reach 500 cities within two years will depend heavily on onboarding infrastructure, regulatory clearances across states, and the pace of Sarathi recruitment beyond Gujarat. The 31 July deadline for seven cities will serve as the first credible test of execution capacity.
Point of View
Fund mobilisation, and competition from better-capitalised private platforms. Shah's personal involvement signals political will, but political will alone has not been sufficient in past cooperative rollouts.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bharat Taxi and how does it work?
Bharat Taxi is a cooperative mobility platform where drivers — called Sarathis — are enrolled as members and shareholders rather than independent contractors. It offers two-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, and four-wheeler ride services, and is backed by the Union Ministry of Cooperation.
Where has Bharat Taxi launched so far?
Bharat Taxi was formally launched across all major cities of Gujarat on 27 June 2025. It had previously operated on a trial basis in select locations before Saturday's full rollout.
Which cities will Bharat Taxi reach by 31 July?
Home Minister Amit Shah named seven cities — Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata — as the next expansion targets, with operations expected to begin in all seven before 31 July.
How many drivers has Bharat Taxi enrolled?
Bharat Taxi has enrolled approximately seven lakh Sarathis across India as of the Gujarat launch. These driver-members hold shareholder status in the cooperative, entitling them to a stake in its profits and governance.
How does Bharat Taxi differ from Ola and Uber?
Unlike Ola and Uber, which operate on a commission-based gig model, Bharat Taxi is structured as a cooperative where drivers are shareholders. This means earnings and governance are shared among members rather than flowing primarily to a private platform owner.
