Government Launches Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform 'Bharat Taxi' to Challenge Private Aggregators

In a strategic move to reshape India's urban mobility landscape, the Union Government today unveiled 'Bharat Taxi,' a cooperative-led digital platform positioned as a direct alternative to dominant private aggregators Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The launch, presided over by Union Minister Amit Shah, signals a significant policy intervention aimed at addressing long-standing grievances within the driver community and fostering greater competition in the sector. The platform's cooperative model is designed to empower drivers by offering enhanced earnings potential and greater operational autonomy, directly challenging the commission-based structures of existing players. This initiative reflects a broader governmental push toward creating more equitable digital ecosystems while maintaining service quality and reliability for consumers. Analysts suggest Bharat Taxi could disrupt market dynamics, potentially prompting regulatory scrutiny and competitive responses from established firms. The launch underscores a deliberate effort to balance technological innovation with socio-economic objectives, marking a pivotal development in India's evolving transportation policy framework.