States » NorthPosted at: Sep 18 2026 9:52PM


Bharat Taxi rolls into Chandigarh with zero commission, no surge pricing; drivers offered ownership stake

Chandigarh, Sept 18 (UNI) Bharat Taxi, a government-backed cooperative ride-hailing platform promising zero commission for drivers and no surge pricing for passengers, was launched in Chandigarh on Friday, offering a new option in the city’s app-based transport market after the administration suspended the licences of Ola, Uber and inDrive for six months.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria launched the service, which is part of an initiative under the union Ministry of Cooperation and seeks to make drivers stakeholders in the platform rather than merely service providers.
“Bharat Taxi is not merely a transport service, but an initiative based on the spirit of cooperation in which drivers will not only provide services but will also become stakeholders in the system,” Kataria said at the launch.
The platform describes itself as India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing service. Drivers registered with Bharat Taxi are called “Saarthis” and can participate in the platform’s ownership and decision-making structure.
The launch assumes significance as the Chandigarh administration recently suspended the aggregator licences of Ola, Uber and inDrive for six months.
Unlike several private ride-hailing platforms, Bharat Taxi will initially operate on a zero-commission model, allowing drivers to retain the entire fare earned from a ride. The platform has also promised zero surge pricing, meaning passengers will not be charged higher fares during peak-demand hours.
Fares are proposed to remain transparent and based on fixed per-kilometre rates.
“The objective is to ensure that the person who actually provides the service also gets the maximum benefit from the income generated through it,” an official associated with the initiative said.
Drivers can register through the Bharat Taxi mobile application by submitting their driving licence, Aadhaar card, vehicle registration certificate and a photograph. Their documents will be verified before they are allowed to operate on the platform.
Under the cooperative ownership model, a verified Saarthi can invest Rs 500 to purchase five shares in Bharat Taxi. This will make the driver a shareholder and give them a stake in future profits of the organisation, according to details released at the launch.
The platform said no commission would be deducted from individual rides. A nominal subscription fee could, however, be introduced in the future to meet operating and service-improvement costs. The amount has not yet been fixed.
The initiative also proposes a range of welfare measures for drivers, including insurance and access to social security schemes such as e-Shram. It plans to facilitate car loans at lower interest rates through the State Bank of India.
A separate drivers’ welfare wing has been established to assist Saarthies with grievances, welfare issues and other problems related to the platform.
For passengers, Bharat Taxi will offer cab, auto-rickshaw and bike-taxi bookings through its mobile application. Cab categories will range from sedans to premium vehicles.
One of the platform’s key selling points is its promise of no surge pricing.
Passengers using private ride-hailing services often face sharp increases in fares during periods of high demand. Bharat Taxi says fares will not be increased merely because demand rises during peak hours.
The platform will also provide real-time vehicle tracking, GPS-based live location sharing and an SOS emergency facility. According to the initiative, the emergency feature is designed to enable passengers to seek assistance from the police or a control room in case of distress.
Only verified drivers will be onboarded, while journey records can be stored for safety and dispute resolution. The platform also plans round-the-clock customer support and support for multiple Indian languages.
The Chandigarh launch will provide an early test of whether a cooperative, driver-owned ride-hailing model can maintain competitive fares and adequate vehicle availability while operating without the commission and surge-pricing structures widely associated with private aggregators.
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