Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurates 'Bharat Taxi' in Gujarat, calls drivers "Saarthis" under cooperative model
Gandhinagar, June 27
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the 'Bharat Taxi' service in Gandhinagar, highlighting the expansion of taxi services and the shift towards a cooperative-driven mobility model.
The event was also attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi.
Speaking at the launch event, Shah said taxi services have now become an essential part of daily life across households in India.
"The need for taxi services has now reached every household. Taxi services have expanded on a massive scale. At the Kumbh Mela, I saw a motorcycle labelled 'Taxi' and asked why it was marked as such. Two-wheelers have now also become taxis. Rickshaws, which are the lifeline of mobility in Gujarat, have also been converted into taxis," Shah said.
He further contrasted traditional app-based ride services with the cooperative model being promoted under Bharat Taxi, emphasising the role and dignity of drivers.
"Various companies created apps; while they refer to the operators as 'drivers,' I call them 'Saarthis' (partners/charioteers), that is the distinction between the two services. They exploited these partners and citizens for the sake of profit. They would charge commissions, delay payments, or arbitrarily cancel registrations without a hearing. Legislation is not always a 100% solution to every problem. Then, the idea emerged that if a taxi service were introduced through the cooperative sector, this entire exploitative business model could be brought to an end. The 'Saarthi' is accorded respect and is not left at the mercy of an app for registration. The 7 lakh people associated with Bharat Taxi are, in fact, its owners. This initiative brings security, respect, and the promise of prosperity," he said.
Shah also said that the initiative had already undergone successful trial runs in several locations before its formal launch in Gujarat.
He also said that the launch of Bharat Taxi marks a push towards a cooperative-based mobility ecosystem, positioning drivers as stakeholders in the system rather than independent gig workers.
"The launch of Bharat Taxi marks a push towards a cooperative-based mobility ecosystem, positioning drivers as stakeholders in the system rather than independent gig workers. After successful trial runs in various locations, the formal launch took place today in Gujarat. The official inauguration was conducted. Bharat Taxi has worked to expand its reach by signing MoUs with the Metro Rail Corporation, AMC, traffic police, and the airports and railway authorities in Surat, Rajkot, and Ahmedabad," he added.
Amit Shah stated that making Bharat Taxi a success is the responsibility of driver-partners and assured that the cooperative-based taxi service will not exploit them, unlike other platforms in the sector.
"Making Bharat Taxi a success is the responsibility of our driver-partners. For the past 5 to 6 years, you have faced significant exploitation at the hands of various companies. I guarantee that Bharat Taxi will not exploit you. Stay committed; Bharat Taxi stands with you. Even dairy giants like Amul had to face stiff competition, yet we proved it could be done," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, someone is thinking about the drivers! My cousin drives for Uber in Bangalore and he's always complaining about low fares, arbitrary cancellations, and late payments. If this Bharat Taxi model actually treats drivers as partners and gives them a stake, it could be a game-changer. Amul is a success story, why not this? 👏
Sounds like a political gimmick to me. The government should focus on improving public transport like buses and metros instead of launching another taxi app. And will this really reach smaller towns? In tier-2 cities, we still rely on autorickshaws and local cabs. Also, Amit Shah's mention of two-wheelers as taxis at Kumbh Mela makes me wonder about safety regulations.
As a user, I'm excited about an alternative to the big players who keep surging prices during peak hours. But my main concern is reliability. Will Bharat Taxi have enough cabs available when I need one? And what about customer service if something goes wrong? The cooperative model worked for milk (Amul), but mobility is different. Let's hope they learn from the mistakes of Ola and Uber.
This is fascinating from a global perspective. In the US, we've seen the gig economy exploit workers too. The cooperative model is gaining traction in places like Austin with companies like RideAustin. If India can scale this up, it could become a model for other developing nations. That said, transparency in operations and pricing will be key to winning trust.
The "Saarthis" terminology is a nice touch - it gives dignity to
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