Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurates ‘Bharat taxi’ in Gujarat

Gandhinagar : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched ‘Bharat Taxi’, the world’s largest driver-owned cooperative mobility organisation, at a grand ceremony held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
According to a press release, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Agriculture and Cooperation Minister Jitubhai Vaghani, and Minister of State Ramesh Katara graced the event.
On this occasion, Union Minister Amit Shah said that ‘Bharat Taxi’ has ushered in a historic revolution in the transportation and mobility sector across India, including Gujarat. Fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi, the country’s first cooperative taxi service, ‘Bharat Taxi’, was officially launched today from Gandhinagar across all major cities of Gujarat.
Based on the successful cooperative models of Amul and IFFCO, this pioneering initiative aims to free millions of two-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, and four-wheeler drivers from exploitation by private app-based companies. Under this initiative, taxi drivers are no longer merely drivers–they are ‘Sarathis’ and owners.
As per the release, Shah stated that private companies treated vehicle operators merely as drivers, exploited them, charged high commissions, and even blocked their registrations without allowing them to be heard. Under ‘Bharat Taxi’, however, vehicle operators are recognised as ‘Sarathis’ rather than drivers. More than 7 lakh Sarathis from across the country have already become co-owners and shareholders of Bharat Taxi by purchasing shares worth just Rs 100.
He said the cooperative model ensures safe and affordable rides for customers while guaranteeing dignity, security, and prosperity for Sarathis.
Drawing a comparison with Amul, the Union Minister said that many women dairy farmers who began with a share of just Rs 100 are today part of a cooperative with a turnover of Rs 1.25 lakh crore, making Amul one of the world’s most trusted food brands.
Shah further stated that some major companies are deliberately lowering fares and incurring losses to prevent the entry of ‘Bharat Taxi’, describing it as a temporary tactic to discourage competition.
He asserted that ‘Bharat Taxi’ would neither tire nor retreat and would continue to serve with the spirit of cooperation and public service. Expressing confidence, he said that just as Amul and IFFCO successfully competed with private companies, ‘Bharat Taxi’ too would emerge victorious in the interest of customers and Sarathis.
To strengthen ‘Bharat Taxi’, leading cooperative institutions such as NCDC, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NDDB, NABARD, and Amul have extended financial and organisational support. The initiative has also partnered with the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Traffic Police, and Western Railway to expand its services.
According to the press release, the Union Cooperation Minister said that ‘Bharat Taxi’ will be expanded to more than 500 large and small cities across the country over the next two years, including Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that as the country’s first Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah has expanded the cooperative sector beyond its traditional boundaries and taken significant steps to transform cooperative societies into professionally managed, corporate-style institutions.
As part of this vision, the innovative ‘Bharat Taxi’ service was launched today in Gujarat from Gandhinagar by Amit Shah.
This initiative will further advance the Prime Minister’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The cooperative sector, traditionally associated with agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy, and banking, will now extend to the mobility sector, empowering Sarathis while upholding the dignity of labour.
Recalling the launch of ‘Bharat Taxi’ in Delhi, CM said that Amit Shah had emphasised that cooperation means ensuring those who contribute their labour also become partners in the profits. He added that this vision would benefit a large number of taxi operators in Gujarat.