Maharashtra CM Launches BHARAT TAXI Service At Navi Mumbai International Airport
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched the BHARAT TAXI service at the Navi Mumbai International Airport, describing it as a transparent, affordable and driver-friendly alternative to private ride-hailing platforms.
The service was inaugurated at a ceremony jointly organised by the Centre and the Maharashtra Government in the presence of Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Fadnavis said that while aggregators such as Ola and Uber have transformed urban mobility, passengers often face high fares due to dynamic pricing during festivals and adverse weather, while drivers have to pay high commissions. He said BHARAT TAXI addresses both concerns by directly connecting passengers with drivers through a cooperative model, eliminating intermediaries.
The platform offers car, auto-rickshaw and bike taxi services through a single mobile application. Mr Fadnavis said the service follows a fare structure similar to Mumbai’s black-and-yellow taxis, charging 31 rupees for the first 1.5 kilometres and 21 rupees for every additional kilometre.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said the cooperative model transforms drivers from employees into members and co-owners of the organisation, enabling them to receive a share of the profits as dividends. He said nearly eight lakh drivers from across the country have already joined the cooperative, and 77 crore rupees has been transferred directly to their bank accounts without any commission deductions.
