Bharat Taxi Set for Pune Launch On November 15; Over 50,000 Drivers Already Registered
Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-based cab and autorickshaw booking platform, will be formally launched in Pune on Sunday, November 15, with more than 50,000 drivers already registered on the platform. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the service at 3.15 pm at the National Heavy Engineering Cooperative Limited (NHECL) premises in Talegaon Dabhade.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol will also attend the inauguration.
Bharat Taxi is being introduced as an alternative to privately operated ride-hailing aggregators. The platform aims to address concerns over high commissions charged to drivers, arbitrary fare structures and surge pricing that can increase passenger costs during adverse weather conditions.
Under its proposed operating model, passengers will be charged transparent, fixed fares irrespective of weather conditions, including heavy rain and strong winds. The cooperative-based arrangement is also intended to allow drivers to retain a fairer share of their earnings.
More than 50,000 cab and autorickshaw drivers in Pune have registered with Bharat Taxi ahead of its launch.
The platform is available on the Google Play Store, with separate applications for passengers and drivers.
Dr Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, President of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, said Bharat Taxi would balance the interests of commuters and drivers. He described the initiative as an effort to establish “economic democracy in the transport sector”.
The formal launch will take place alongside other cooperative-sector programmes during Amit Shah’s two-day visit to Pune on November 15 and 16.
Jayant Mahajan is a writer and contributor at PuneNow, covering the intersection of technology, climate action, and urban governance across Pune. With an extensive background in business management, digital transformation, and academia, Jayant brings real-world insight to local sustainability issues, from civic infrastructure to smart city data ethics. As an educator and founder of the Change Before Climate Change mission, he focuses on how Pune’s institutions and businesses can build future-ready, sustainable systems. Through his columns, Jayant bridges policy, technology, and practical action to help Punekars navigate a rapidly changing urban climate.
