Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 23 July 2026, distributed share certificates to Bharat Taxi drivers at an inauguration ceremony held at Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking the formal launch of the cooperative taxi service at the greenfield facility.

Context

The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced that Fadnavis distributed share certificates to drivers in a representative capacity at the 'Bharat Taxi Seva Shubharambh Karyakram' (Bharat Taxi Service Inauguration Programme). The certificates were handed to five drivers: Sachin Salunkhe, Seema Santosh Devgirikar, Santosh Singh, Anant Pawaskar, and Hitesh Dand.

The distribution of share certificates signifies that these drivers are not merely employees but co-owners of the cooperative, giving them a direct economic stake in the enterprise. This model distinguishes Bharat Taxi from conventional app-based or contractor-run taxi aggregators.

Policy Backdrop

Bharat Taxi is a cooperative taxi initiative in Maharashtra designed to provide share ownership to drivers operating at airports and other major transport hubs. The cooperative model is intended to formalise last-mile connectivity while simultaneously addressing driver welfare and income security.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is a major greenfield project developed to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and expand the region's overall air-travel capacity. The airport received central and state approvals during the 2010s as part of India's broader airport modernisation programme. Anchoring an organised cooperative taxi service at the facility from the outset reflects the state government's intent to integrate regulated ground transport with new aviation infrastructure.

Stakeholders and Impact

Maharashtra has pursued a twin-track approach: developing large aviation infrastructure while simultaneously building organised transport services through cooperative structures. For taxi drivers, share ownership translates into profit-sharing rights and a degree of institutional security that informal arrangements do not provide.

Cooperative societies and registered drivers stand to benefit most directly, while airport users gain a regulated, accountable taxi option at a brand-new international terminal. The initiative also aligns with broader state-level efforts to bring gig and semi-formal transport workers under a structured economic framework.

What's Next

The Bharat Taxi model is expected to see a phased rollout at additional airports and transport nodes across Maharashtra as the Navi Mumbai airport moves toward full operational capacity. The success of the cooperative ownership model here could serve as a template for similar initiatives at other greenfield infrastructure projects in the state.