Bharat Taxi Cooperative Service Launch in Maharashtra
Union Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Murlidhar Mohol and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis launched the 'Bharat Taxi' service at Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking the expansion of the cooperative mobility model to Maharashtra after previous launches in Delhi and Gujarat. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' and operates under the leadership of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah.
The Bharat Taxi service introduces an equitable cooperative model where taxi drivers (called Sarathis) are not merely service providers but become owners, shareholders, and members of the cooperative institution. The model eliminates surge pricing and hidden charges, operating instead on a fixed service fee system that provides affordable services to passengers and fair returns to Sarathis. The service emphasizes passenger safety, particularly for women, courteous treatment, transparent fares, and accountable service delivery.
Employment Generation and Expansion Plans
The initiative aims to create significant employment opportunities, with specific plans to provide taxis through credit facilities to 3,000-4,000 local residents around Navi Mumbai International Airport, connecting them to the Bharat Taxi platform. The service will be expanded across Maharashtra in a phased manner by collaborating with the state's cooperative institutions, transport organizations, and local bodies, targeting youth, women, and local communities.
Cooperative Sector Context
The launch occurs within the broader context of the Ministry of Cooperation's activities since its establishment in 2021. Nearly 152 major decisions have been taken over the past five years to strengthen the cooperative sector, including a new National Cooperation Policy and a target of establishing two lakh new multipurpose cooperative societies across India (with nearly 40,000 already established). Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are being computerized at a cost of approximately ₹3,000 crore and enabled to undertake over 25 types of economic activities. Approximately 39,000 cooperative societies operate Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, while around 54,000 PACS function as Common Service Centers.
Maharashtra's Cooperative Landscape
Maharashtra contributes significantly to India's cooperative movement, hosting nearly 2.5 lakh of the country's 8.60 lakh cooperative societies. The state has received financial assistance of approximately ₹10,000 crore through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for cooperative sugar mills and has become the first state to provide land for tissue culture promotion through cooperatives. During the launch event, share certificates and service kits were distributed to Sarathis associated with Bharat Taxi, formalizing their ownership participation in the cooperative model.