Bharat Taxi Service to Launch in Kolkata; No More Issues with Frequent Booking Cancellations

Bharat Taxi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that drivers associated with this platform will also be co-owners of the taxis. Across the country, over seven lakh drivers have become shareholders of Bharat Taxi by purchasing shares for ₹100.

Bharat Taxi (Kolkata): There is welcome news for the residents of Kolkata who have been troubled by high cab fares. People in Kolkata will now be able to travel affordably using the government-backed 'Bharat Taxi' service. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the Bharat Taxi service will be launched in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Jaipur within the next two years.

Service to Launch in Kolkata This Year

The Bharat Taxi service was officially launched on Saturday, June 27, across 14 cities in Gujarat. Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the service would be rolled out in over 500 cities nationwide within the next two years. It is expected that, following its launch in Gujarat, the service will also commence in Kolkata later this year.

What is Bharat Taxi?

Bharat Taxi is the country's first app-based cab service operated by a cooperative society. Its most distinctive feature is that the drivers themselves are the owners. This app-based cab service operates through the collaboration of the central government and cooperative societies. Bharat Taxi functions on a zero-commission model; consequently, the driver receives the entire income generated from the fare, without having to share any portion of it with an aggregator.

Drivers Are Also Shareholders

Bharat Taxi fares are lower compared to other app-based cab services. The platform will offer not only cab services but also auto-rickshaw and bike services. Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that drivers associated with this platform would not merely be vehicle operators but 'Saarthis' (partners/guides) and co-owners. More than seven lakh drivers across the country have already become shareholders of Bharat Taxi by purchasing shares for ₹100.