(Image source from: x.com/coopbharattaxi)
India’s first government-supported taxi service, Bharat Taxi, has officially launched. On February 5, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah introduced the app during an event at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. This new taxi service operates on a cooperative model that seeks to provide improved earnings for drivers while ensuring clear pricing for customers. It aims to serve as a viable option against established cab services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Currently, Bharat Taxi can be accessed in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat by all users. There are plans to expand the service nationwide within a three-year timeframe. Minister Shah stated, "In three years, Bharat Taxi will be available all over the nation, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Dwarka to Kamakhya," during the app's official launch.
A significant aspect of Bharat Taxi is its commitment to lower fares. The service utilizes a cooperative approach, allowing each driver, labeled as "Sarathi," to possess five shares in the organization. Since they are considered the “owners” of the app, they do not have to pay commission fees per ride to the app. This model differs from those of Ola and Uber, potentially leading to reduced costs for passengers. However, drivers are required to pay a set daily fee of Rs 30 to use the mobile app. The developers of the app have suggested that fares on Bharat Taxi could be as much as 30 percent lower than those of Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Although it’s still early to gauge actual fares, preliminary observations indicate that current rates are comparable to those of other taxi apps. In fact, there are instances where Bharat Taxi is pricier.
To check the fares, we booked a ride from Noida 18 to R K Puram in Delhi and noticed similar pricing across four different apps. For Uber, the ride was quoted at Rs 329 for Uber Go and Rs 379 for Premier. Ola’s prices were Rs 367 for Mini and Rs 371 for Prime. Rapido listed its economy cab at Rs 361 and its premium option at Rs 432, while Bharat Taxi proposed Rs 389 for Cab Economy and Rs 448 for Sedan. This means that, at present, we are not finding significantly lower fares on Bharat Taxi, although this could also be influenced by competitive actions from companies like Ola and Uber. These private firms tend to offer substantial discounts when faced with competition. Therefore, the clarity on Bharat Taxi's fares will likely improve in the upcoming months as the situation stabilizes.
One thing we have observed about the Bharat Taxi app compared to others is the amount of time you have to wait. While other apps indicate how soon a specific cab will be ready, Bharat Taxi does not provide that information. It’s not that Ola and Uber are always spot-on with their “waiting time. ” However, it is useful for users to have some idea of how long they might wait. Like other taxi apps, Bharat Taxi is now available for Android users on the Google Play Store. iPhone users can find it on the Apple App Store. After you download and launch the app, you will see four introductory slides labeled: “Swadeshi,” “Sahakar,” “Suraksha,” and “Seva,” with a “Get Started” button below. Clicking this button asks users to provide their mobile number. This number is then confirmed via an OTP. After the verification is complete, you will log into the app and be directed to the home screen where you can request a cab.
Regarding the services that the app offers, it includes four main features: the option to purchase Metro train tickets, the ability to order a cab on demand, the option to hire a cab for a limited number of hours (up to a maximum of 12 hours), and the capability to book a ride between cities. The “Profile” section in the app holds user details along with information about Bharat Taxi and customer support choices. There are various ride options available, including air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned cabs, larger cabs, auto-rickshaws, and bike taxis, similar to what established companies provide. The app also has a sleek design that resembles other ride-hailing platforms. This new taxi service includes a built-in safety feature, which comes with a special helpline. In Delhi, this service works together with the Delhi Police. The platform asserts that all its drivers go through a verification process to improve safety and security for passengers. However, we have previously noticed that nearly all Bharat Taxi drivers also use other taxi apps to offer their services. Essentially, the number of available drivers is pretty much the same across all taxi services.
