Every day, a large number of people in India use taxis. Most of services are provided by companies like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. However, gradually, these companies have started acting arbitrarily, which has made the service a headache for customers.
To address this, the government has introduced a new taxi service that will not only create fair competition between Ola and Uber but also provide several benefits to both passengers and drivers. The government has launched the country’s first cooperative taxi service — Bharat Taxi Service.
People will be able to benefit from the government-initiated Bharat Taxi Service starting in December. However, its pilot project, involving 650 drivers, will begin in November.
From December onwards, this service will gradually expand to other states. By that time, around 5,000 male and female drivers are expected to join, potentially making it a significant competitor to established players like Ola and Uber.
Currently, in companies like Ola and Uber, cars are gradually being registered to receive bookings through the app, with a portion of the fare going to the companies. However, as per government claims, the revenue generated from this service will go directly to the drivers.
Bharat Taxi will also include female drivers. In the first phase, 100 women will be part of the service, and by 2030, their number is expected to increase to 16,000. Free training sessions and special insurance benefits will be offered to them starting from 15th November.
Now, let’s explain how this service will work. An app will be available for download from the Play Store and iOS, similar to Ola and Uber, and it will support four Indian languages — Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
From each ride’s earnings, they will need to pay a daily, weekly, or monthly fee, which will be nominal.
The Bharat Taxi Service operates on a subscription-based model. It will be managed by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited and will function as an app-driven service under the Digital India Mission.
Along with the launch, registration will be open for two-wheelers, rickshaws, and cars, which people can then book through the app.
Union Minister Amit Shah also informed Parliament about this service. In the Lok Sabha, he stated that in the coming days, a large cooperative taxi service similar to Ola and Uber will be launched on a cooperative basis. It will register two-wheelers, rickshaws, and four-wheelers. The profits will not go to corporate owners but will go directly to the drivers. Such a cooperative service will benefit both the public and the drivers directly.