Source : PTI | Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched the Bharat Taxiride-sharing app at the Navi Mumbai International Airport premises, stating that it will protect commuters from surge pricing.
Bharat Taxi, which operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution to drivers, is being positioned by the government as an indigenous alternative to foreign investment-based platforms.
Speaking at the joint launch event of the Central and State governments, Fadnavis said commuters won’t face surge pricing during festivals and heavy monsoon downpours while using Bharat Taxi. Fares are capped at ₹31 for the first 1.5 kilometers and ₹21 per kilometer thereafter, aligned with traditional meter-taxi rates, he noted.
“Private aggregators made significant contributions, but passengers and drivers face severe hardship from inflated surge fares and heavy commissions,” Fadnavis said. “Bharat Taxi breaks the chain of intermediaries and directly connects passengers with drivers. The state’s Cooperative Department will oversee all financial transactions,” he added.
In the first phase, 600 taxis are affiliated to the service in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with plans to scale beyond 1,000 units shortly before expanding across Pune and Maharashtra. An MoU was signed between the state government and Sahakar Taxi Co-op Ltd during the event.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol stated that under the ‘Sahakar Taxi’ framework, drivers become direct owners and profit-shareholders rather than employees. Approximately 8 lakh drivers nationwide have enrolled in the broader cooperative network, receiving over ₹77 crore directly into their accounts without middleman deductions, he said.
