Ola, Uber’s new rival Bharat Taxi to officially launch operations by end of January

An Indian government-backed ride-hailing app is preparing for its full launch after a quiet pilot showed strong early traction.

The Bharat Taxi app will be officially rolled out by the end of January in Delhi and several other cities, according to a PTI report. The move comes after thousands of daily rides during its soft launch phase convinced officials that the platform could work at scale.

The app was introduced on a pilot basis in Delhi last month. Since then, it has been handling around 5,500 rides every day. A large share of these bookings are from the airport, with the rest spread across city locations and different vehicle categories.

More than 1.4 lakh drivers have already signed up. For many of them, the appeal is simple. The app does not take any commission.

A senior official from the Ministry of Cooperation, which is leading the initiative, told PTI that the response so far has been encouraging and the formal launch will take place before month-end.

“We have received a very good response for the Bharat Taxi service during the soft launch. The official launch will be done by month-end,” said Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Additional Secretary in the Cooperation Ministry.

Bharat Taxi is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a driver-first cooperative supported by some of India’s largest institutions including Amul, IFFCO, NABARD and NAFED. The cooperative also has elected driver representatives on its board, giving drivers a direct say in how the platform is run.

The app was first announced in March 2025 year by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. The idea was to reduce the control of private platforms over commercial vehicle drivers and give them ownership instead of dependence. That puts Bharat Taxi in direct competition with private ride-hailing giants like Ola, Uber and Rapido.

Unlike these platforms, which charge drivers a significant cut from each ride, Bharat Taxi follows a zero-commission model. Drivers keep their full earnings and also become beneficiaries of the cooperative’s profits.

The app offers multiple ride options including bikes, autos, taxis and four-wheelers. It promises transparent pricing with no surge rates, along with features like live tracking, verified drivers and sharing trip details for safety. It has also been integrated with Metro services and works closely with the Delhi Police to strengthen security.