Home Minister Amit Shah launched the country’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform “Bharat Taxi” here on Thursday. It will start services in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat initially and pan-India in the next three years.The move is being seen as a significant milestone in strengthening the cooperative sector and promoting citizen-centric mobility solutions.According to the Ministry of Cooperation, the platform will operate on a “zero-commission” and “surge-free” pricing model, with profits distributed directly to drivers. It said Bharat Taxi will prioritise social security for ‘sarathis’ (drivers) through health insurance, accident coverage, retirement savings and a dedicated driver support system. Around 200 women drivers have already joined the service.Under the initiative, drivers will be placed at the centre of ownership, operations and value creation, enabling them to break free from what officials describe as exploitative aggregator-based models.While the service is backed by the Centre, Bharat Taxi is not a government-run platform. It is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a driver-owned cooperative that has drawn leadership support from professionals associated with NABARD and Amul, widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful cooperative models.“Under the model, each driver holds five shares in the cooperative. Unlike private aggregators, no commission is deducted per ride. Instead, drivers pay a fixed daily app access fee of Rs 30 — a structure aimed at addressing long-standing complaints over high commissions and limited control on platforms such as Ola and Uber,” an official said.Reports suggest Bharat Taxi’s fares could be up to 30 per cent cheaper than private competitors, as savings from the zero-commission model are passed on to passengers. Traditional ride-hailing apps typically deduct Rs 30-50 per ride as commission. Bharat Taxi has said it already has over four lakh registered drivers on its platform.The app also incorporates safety features, including a dedicated helpline. In collaboration with the Delhi Police, 35 special booths have been set up to address customer complaints and concerns. All drivers undergo a verification process as part of onboarding.The platform offers multiple ride categories — AC and non-AC cabs, XL cabs, autos and bike taxis — mirroring the flexibility provided by established players.Bharat Taxi had its soft launch last year in Delhi and Gujarat, where it recorded an average of 5,500 rides daily, including 4,000 airport trips.