Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi travelled in a Bharat Taxi on Saturday shortly after launching the cooperative ride-hailing platform in Gujarat.
The leaders travelled from Mahatma Mandir to the Circuit House in Gandhinagar, marking the symbolic beginning of the initiative.
The journey followed the formal launch of Bharat Taxi. The platform aims to expand the cooperative movement by making drivers shareholders instead of commission-based service providers.
The driver described the experience as unforgettable and welcomed the initiative.
“It feels very good. The Bharat Taxi app is excellent, and all of us drivers are going to benefit from it,” he said.
The driver recalled that Amit Shah, Bhupendra Patel and Harsh Sanghavi asked his name and enquired about how long he had been associated with the service. “I am very happy. I never imagined this would happen. My fortune has opened,” he added.
Earlier, Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi and described it as a cooperative alternative to conventional app-based ride-hailing platforms. He said the initiative would end the exploitation of drivers and passengers by making Sarathis owners and shareholders in the organisation.
Shah announced that Bharat Taxi has started operations across Gujarat in three categories: two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and four-wheelers. He added that the platform aims to expand to more than 500 cities and towns across India within the next two years.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the cooperative model would allow drivers to share profits instead of remaining only service providers.
Organisers said Bharat Taxi has already enrolled nearly seven lakh driver-members and over 37 lakh customers nationwide.
The platform currently operates in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Anand, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Mehsana, Jamnagar and Valsad.
The launch also included MoUs with Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Adani Airport Holdings, Airports Authority of India, Western Railway’s Ahmedabad Division, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Gujarat Police to strengthen transport integration.
Also Read: Amit Shah Says Bharat Taxi Will End Exploitation By Private Cab Platforms
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