With 800,000 drivers and over 4 million customers, Bharat Taxi is transforming India’s ride-hailing scene through its zero-commission, driver-owned platform backed by major cooperatives and government institutions.
Bharat Taxi said on Monday that it had about 800,000 registered drivers and nearly 4.1 million customers as of July 25, underlining the rapid growth of India’s cooperative-backed answer to private ride-hailing platforms. The update comes as the service, built under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, continues to position itself as a driver-owned alternative in a market long dominated by commission-heavy apps.
Launched on June 6, 2025, by eight national cooperative institutions including NABARD, IFFCO, Amul, NAFED and the National Cooperative Development Corporation, Bharat Taxi has been pitched as the country’s first cooperative-led cab platform. According to reports in the Times of India and other outlets, the model gives drivers, or Sarathis, ownership stakes as well as representation in governance, with reserved seats on the board.
The platform’s selling point is a zero-commission, surge-free structure. Drivers keep their fare income, while riders pay only the trip amount based on distance, time and market conditions, with no convenience or platform fees. The cooperative also uses a subscription-style model, and says 20 per cent of earnings are credited as capital while 80 per cent is distributed among drivers according to kilometres travelled. A 7 per cent charge applies only at airport prepaid booths to cover operating costs.
Bharat Taxi is already active in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kanpur and Pune, and plans to add Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore and Nagpur in a phased expansion. The app offers bikes, autos, economy cabs, premium sedans, SUVs, rentals, outstation trips and scheduled rides. LiveMint reported that Namma Yatri has partnered with the platform on technology, while Bharat Taxi has also announced links with Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, State Bank of India, Paytm and IFFCO Tokio Insurance to support payments, safety and insurance.
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