Rajasthan: 'Bharat Taxi' service to be launched in Jaipur in 1st week of June
Jaipur, May 20
After being introduced in cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chandigarh, the cooperative-model "Bharat Taxi" service is now set to expand to Jaipur and other cities, with its Jaipur launch scheduled for the first week of June.
The service aims to provide affordable and safe transport to commuters while ensuring better earnings and ownership rights for taxi drivers.
Rajasthan Minister of State (MoS) for Cooperation (Independent Charge), Gautam Kumar Dak, said on Wednesday that "Bharat Taxi", India's first cooperative-model taxi service, will soon be launched in Jaipur, offering affordable and safe transportation to the public while strengthening the economic condition of drivers.
Addressing drivers during the "Bharat Taxi Dialogue" programme held at the Apex Bank auditorium in Jaipur, Dak added that the service, after being introduced in cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chandigarh, is now set to expand to Jaipur and other cities.
The MoS said that Bharat Taxi is a unique initiative in which taxi drivers themselves will be the owners of the company instead of any private corporate entity.
The service is based on four key principles -- ownership, security, respect and equitable profit-sharing.
"The taxi driver will be the real owner of the company," Dak said, adding that no driver's account would be suspended without giving them an opportunity to be heard.
He also said that the service would free drivers from hidden charges and arbitrary practices of private companies.
According to the MoS, the cooperative taxi model will provide drivers with better choices and improve their confidence, livelihood and economic status.
He urged drivers to spread awareness about Bharat Taxi and encourage more people to join the initiative.
During the interaction session, several drivers shared their experiences and suggestions, saying that they often face exploitation while working with private aggregator companies and do not receive the expected increase in earnings.
Drivers welcomed the launch of Bharat Taxi, saying that the service being operated through indigenous cooperative institutions would ensure that profits remain within the country.
They also said the initiative would help them escape arbitrary subscription charges imposed by private firms.
The drivers assured full cooperation in making Rajasthan a model state for the successful operation of Bharat Taxi.
Among those present on the occasion were Special Assistant Suraj Singh Negi, Additional Registrar (Human Resource Management) Bhomaram, Apex Bank Managing Director Ranjit Singh Chundawat, and Bharat Taxi Jaipur City Head Abhishek Charan.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a frequent traveler to Jaipur, I've had mixed experiences with cab services. This seems promising—affordable and safe transport with better driver welfare. But I hope they focus on proper driver training and vehicle hygiene too. Clean cabs are non-negotiable!
Cooperative model sounds nice on paper, but let's see how it handles operational challenges—like surge pricing, driver availability, and customer complaints. Private companies like Ola/Uber have set high expectations for convenience. Bharat Taxi needs an app that works seamlessly, otherwise it'll struggle.
Interesting to see a cooperative model competing with private giants. I'm curious how they'll maintain service quality and scale. In the US, similar efforts have struggled—hope India's take on it is more successful. The driver ownership angle is definitely appealing.
This is a brilliant move! Private aggregators have been fleecing drivers with hidden charges and arbitrary suspensions. Bharat Taxi gives drivers dignity and ownership. I hope the Rajasthan government ensures strict oversight to prevent any corruption in the cooperative. Good initiative overall! 👍
As someone who uses taxis daily in Jaipur, I welcome this. But what about safety for women passengers? Will Bharat Taxi have mandatory GPS tracking, SOS buttons, and background checks for drivers? Those features are a must. Also, please ensure the app is user-friendly for non-tech-savvy folks.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.