The initiative has already registered over 38 lakh customers nationwide and is integrating its services with key transport infrastructure across multiple states
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday introduced cooperative ride-hailing platform Bharat Taxi in Gujarat, marking the service’s entry into the state and outlining plans to expand operations to 125 cities and 30 major urban centres across India by March 2027.
The event, held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, senior state ministers, cooperative sector representatives and thousands of drivers, referred to by the platform as “Sarathis“.
Cooperative Expansion
Bharat Taxi Chairman and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) Managing Director Jayen Mehta described the initiative as a significant step for the cooperative sector, saying the platform is built on the principle that drivers should also be owners.
“Today’s programme comes just before the completion of five years of the Ministry of Cooperation. It is our privilege that Amit Shah has joined us today to guide us on this important occasion,” Mehta said.
Recalling the origins of the cooperative movement, Mehta said Amul began with two village milk cooperatives and procurement of 250 litre of milk before growing into the world’s largest cooperative organisation, with an annual turnover of more than Rs 1 lakh crore.
“The concept of Sahkar Taxi is a new vision for the cooperative sector. Amit Shah’s vision is that when people work together as members of a cooperative institution, extraordinary and unimaginable results can be achieved,” he said.
Mehta said Bharat Taxi had expanded rapidly since beginning operations on 5 February 2026.
“In less than five months, nearly seven lakh Sarathis have joined us, while 38 lakh to 40 lakh customers have registered on our app. At present, we are active in only two to three states,” he said.
According to Mehta, more than 1.5 lakh drivers and over seven lakh customers in Gujarat had registered with the platform even before its formal entry into the state.
Nationwide Footprint
Outlining the company’s expansion roadmap, Mehta said Bharat Taxi aims to establish a presence in the capitals of 30 states and major urban centres over the next year.
“Within one year, Bharat Taxi will reach the capitals of 30 major states, the country’s principal urban centres and more than 125 cities,” he said, adding that the platform sought to ensure that “every rupee spent by a customer should go directly into the bank account of our Sarathi brothers”.
During the event, Bharat Taxi signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with several public sector and institutional partners to strengthen operations in Gujarat.
The agreements were signed with Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Adani Airport Holdings Limited, the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway, the Airports Authority of India for Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara airports, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Gujarat State Traffic Branch.
Organisers said the partnerships would help integrate taxi services with Metro stations, railway facilities, airports and urban transport infrastructure while improving operational support for drivers.
According to Bharat Taxi, the platform follows a cooperative ownership model under which drivers are stakeholders rather than commission-paying partners.
The company also offers a WhatsApp-based airport booking service, operates Sarathi Assistance Centres, distributes membership certificates and welfare kits to drivers and has partnered with the State Bank of India to facilitate vehicle loans at concessional interest rates.
Bharat Taxi has also entered into partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturers to encourage cleaner mobility solutions.
Gujarat Rollout
The initial phase of operations in Gujarat will cover Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Anand, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Mehsana, Jamnagar and Valsad, with further expansion planned across the state.
“Trust for passengers, respect for Sarathis and new opportunities for society, this is the identity of Bharat Taxi. It is not just an application, but a unique platform that connects people with new dreams. Bharat Taxi is not merely a project; it is a movement that is giving new momentum to the cooperative sector,” Mehta asserted.
