Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Chandigarh is set to witness the launch of Bharat Taxi, a cooperative ride-hailing service, on Friday. The service will be inaugurated at a function at the New UT Secretariat building in Sector 9, with Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar attending as chief guests.
Following the digital launch, Bharat Taxi vehicles will be flagged off, marking the beginning of operations in the Union Territory. The rollout comes just days after the Chandigarh Administration suspended the aggregator licences of major app-based cab and bike taxi operators, including Ola, Uber, Rapido and InDrive, for six months.
The suspension was ordered by the State Transport Authority (STA) amid an ongoing protest by taxi and cab drivers, who have been agitating for nearly 100 days and staging a hunger strike for the past two weeks.
Bharat Taxi was first launched in New Delhi on December 2, 2025, as a cooperative mobility platform aimed at providing an alternative to private ride-hailing companies. The initiative seeks to bring drivers into the system as stakeholders rather than merely service providers.
One of the key features of the platform is that drivers are not required to pay any commission. Fares are transferred directly to their bank accounts, and the app does not operate through a company wallet. The platform also eliminates surge pricing, ensuring that passengers are charged transparent and consistent fares regardless of demand.
According to officials, Bharat Taxi fares are up to 30 per cent lower than those offered by many existing ride-hailing services. Passengers will also benefit from the absence of extra charges and dynamic pricing, making rides more affordable and predictable.
The service places a strong emphasis on passenger safety, particularly for women. Users can register complaints through the app’s help and support section, while women passengers can choose female drivers through the “Bike Didi” initiative. More than 150 women drivers are already associated with the platform.
Additional features include easy ride booking, real-time vehicle tracking and accident and insurance coverage for riders. Authorities said the cooperative model is designed to ensure greater participation and ownership for drivers while delivering reliable transport services to commuters.
After Delhi and Chandigarh, Bharat Taxi is also being expanded to cities such as Jaipur and Rajkot. Officials said efforts are underway to extend the cooperative ride-hailing model to all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The Bharat Taxi app is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms. Passengers can register using their mobile number or email address, while drivers can join the platform after uploading Aadhaar, driving licence and vehicle-related documents for verification.
