Bharat Taxi Service to Expand Across Major Cities and Talukas in the Coming Years

India’s cooperative-sector-led mobility initiative, Bharat Taxi, is set for significant expansion and is expected to reach all major cities and talukas across the country within the next few years, according to a recent announcement by the government.

 

The proposed expansion marks an important step in the development of a cooperative-driven ride-hailing ecosystem, aimed not only at improving transport access but also at strengthening the economic position of drivers by giving them a more participatory role in the platform.

 

Expansion Plan Announced in Parliament

The announcement was made while responding to questions related to employment generation through cooperative societies in the Rajya Sabha. Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishna Pal Gurjar stated that the service is being planned for wider rollout and that its expansion will be undertaken over the next two to three years.

 

According to the minister, Bharat Taxi is being developed as a service that can eventually reach not just metropolitan cities, but also smaller urban centres and taluka-level regions, thereby broadening transport accessibility and creating livelihood opportunities.

 

Focus on Driver Empowerment and Income Growth

A major objective behind the launch of Bharat Taxi is the economic empowerment of drivers. The service has been designed to offer drivers greater support, security and income opportunities compared to conventional app-based transport models.

 

The minister indicated that the initiative seeks to make drivers more self-reliant, while also helping improve their earnings through a system rooted in the cooperative model. This structure is expected to give drivers a stronger sense of participation and long-term benefit.

 

Service Already Operational in Select Cities

At present, Bharat Taxi is reportedly active in Delhi-NCR and has also begun operations in several prominent cities in Gujarat, including:

• Ahmedabad
• Rajkot
• Somnath
• Dwarka

The functioning of the service in these locations is being seen as an early step toward testing and strengthening the platform before broader national expansion.

 

India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform

Launched recently under the cooperative sector framework, Bharat Taxi is being promoted as India’s first cooperative-operated ride-hailing platform. The initiative was formally launched by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

 

The platform has reportedly been established with the support of Amul, one of India’s best-known cooperative institutions, along with eight leading cooperative organisations from across the country.

 

This cooperative ownership model is considered one of the most distinctive features of the service. Unlike conventional aggregator systems, Bharat Taxi is intended to create a framework where drivers are not merely service providers, but also feel a sense of ownership and inclusion within the system.

 

Cooperative Mobility Model with Wider Social Impact

Beyond transportation, the Bharat Taxi model is being viewed as a broader experiment in inclusive economic development. By linking digital mobility services with the cooperative movement, the initiative aims to combine technology, employment generation and social equity.

 

If implemented successfully at scale, Bharat Taxi could become an important example of how cooperative institutions can enter and compete in technology-led sectors while also protecting the interests of workers.

 

A New Direction for India’s Ride-Hailing Ecosystem

The expansion of Bharat Taxi reflects a changing approach to platform-based employment in India. As concerns continue around driver earnings, commission structures and job security in app-based transport services, the cooperative model is being positioned as an alternative that offers more balanced benefits.

 

With plans to expand into larger and smaller urban centres alike, Bharat Taxi could emerge as a significant player in India’s evolving transport ecosystem—one that combines mobility, employment and cooperative ownership under a single national platform.