Administrator
07 February 2026
A day after Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today formally launched India’s first cooperative-based taxi service ‘Bharat Taxi’ in New Delhi on Friday,all drivers linked to app- based rise-hailing platforms Ola, Uber and Rapido called for a nation wide strike.
The protest was dubbed as “ All India Breakdown’ and drivers reportedly switched off their ride- failing apps simultaneously. The striking union said that as there are no government - fixed fare systems for riders working for Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter and other aggregator platforms operating autos, cabs and bike taxis, companies decide fares on their own.
As per their letter, this results in “ severe income insecurity, exploitation, and unsustainable working conditions for millions of transport workers.”
The Union has urged the government to “ act now”, claiming that app based millions of drivers are being pushed into poverty while aggregator companies continue to earn profits.
Neither central government nor the state governments have responded to their appeal. Hence their strike has disrupted travel mode of commuters across the country even as Bharat Taxi launched yesterday rolled its services in central cities such as Delhi.
Reports claimed that more than 1,200 “Sarathis” (driver partners) from various States participated in this historic programme, reflecting broad support for Bharat Taxi’s driver-empowerment and cooperative-ownership-based model.
Addressing the programme, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Cooperation is developing an ownership-rights model for people working in the unorganised sector. He said that within three years, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya, Sahakar Taxi will become a very big medium for the welfare of our taxi Sarathis.
Shri Shah said that when he first raised the subject of Sahakar Taxi before Parliament, many people—especially companies connected with taxi operations—questioned why the government was entering the taxi sector. He said such people do not know the difference between ‘Sahakar’ (cooperation) and ‘Sarkar’ (government). Shri Shah said the government is not entering the taxi sector; rather, cooperation (Cooperation) is entering the taxi sector.
Earlier in the day, Bharat Taxi’s launch was symbolically marked by a grand rally of 100 cars from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Vigyan Bhawan. This rally presented a strong display of unity, pride, and collective strength of the country’s taxi community.
During the programme, the top five Sarathis with outstanding performance were felicitated for their notable contribution, to encourage driver ownership and participation under the cooperative model. Each honoured Sarathi was provided personal accident insurance certificates and family health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh, reflecting Bharat Taxi’s commitment to driver welfare and social security.
During the programme, in the presence of the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged with leading public and private partners, with the objective of strengthening operational integration, digital enablement, and service quality.
Under the MoU signed between Delhi Traffic Police and Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, Bharat Taxi will be permitted to digitally operate 34 prepaid taxi booths across 21 locations in Delhi, thereby enhancing passenger safety, transparency, driver income, and service quality. With the support of Delhi Traffic Police, Bharat Taxi has also established a Joint Command and Control Centre, which includes real-time ride monitoring, SOS alerts, and rapid emergency response mechanisms, promoting road safety, regulatory compliance, and commuter security.
Under the MoU with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY, advisory and technical support will be provided to Bharat Taxi under the Digital India framework, enabling integration with DigiLocker, UMANG, and API Setu. This will provide Sarathis with paperless onboarding, unified access to government services, secure interoperable operations, cashless payments, and improved operational efficiency.
Under the partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), last-mile connectivity will be provided at 10 major metro stations through bike taxis, e-autos/CNG autos, and cabs, allowing passengers to plan and pay for end-to-end journeys on a single platform, while enabling higher trip volumes and reduced idle time for drivers.
The MoU with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will regulate Bharat Taxi operations at AAI airports nationwide, including pickup zones, signage permissions, and strict security and service standards, thereby enabling regulated airport operations across India.
Under the agreement with Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation / Delhi Airport Parking Services (DAPS – GMR supported), Bharat Taxi’s white cab services have been permitted at multiple parking locations across IGI Airport terminals. DAPS will provide a 20% discount on the ₹245 per-trip pickup fee for the first year, which will complement Bharat Taxi’s Kaali Peeli services and significantly increase airport ride volumes and revenues.
IFFCO Tokio has been onboarded as Bharat Taxi’s insurance partner, providing personal accident cover of ₹5 lakh for drivers at nominal rates, along with advisory support for long-term driver welfare and insurance solutions.
Under the MoU with Paytm, digital payments, co-branded offerings, and fintech enablement will be enabled, including payment gateway integration and access to Paytm’s partner ecosystem. Paytm is also supporting driver group health insurance with family coverage.
The partnership with GMR will further strengthen airport mobility operations and reinforce Bharat Taxi’s regulated access and service expansion at IGI Airport terminals.
Under the MoU signed with SBI, priority financing will be made available for commercial passenger vehicles under schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. Sahakar Taxi will identify and support eligible driver-owners, while SBI will ensure expeditious consideration in line with its prevailing guidelines.
