Chandigarh
 
Chandigarh on Friday got a new app-based taxi service promising fixed fares, no peak-hour surge pricing, and zero commission for drivers, days after the Chandigarh Administration suspended the licences of Ola, Uber, and inDrive for six months. Bharat Taxi, launched under the cooperative model, is being positioned as an affordable and driver-owned alternative in the city’s ride-hailing market.
 
Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria digitally launched the service and flagged off its vehicles at a function organised by the Department of Cooperation. Union Ministers of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar were also present.
 
For Chandigarh residents, the key attraction is the promise that fares will not shoot up during peak demand. The platform will follow transparent, fixed per-kilometre rates, and offer cabs, auto-rickshaws and bike taxis, with options ranging from sedans to premium taxis. Passengers can book through the Bharat Taxi app using their mobile numbers and location.
 
The platform also carries app-based safety features, including verified drivers, GPS-enabled real-time vehicle tracking, live-location sharing, an SOS/emergency button and round-the-clock customer support. The emergency facility is intended to connect passengers with the police or control room, while travel records will be retained on the app.
 
Unlike conventional ride-hailing arrangements, Bharat Taxi calls its drivers ‘Saarthis’ and seeks to make them members and shareholders rather than merely service providers. After verification, a driver can invest Rs 500 to buy five shares and become eligible to participate in future profits.
 
Drivers will pay no commission on rides, allowing their entire ride earnings to go directly to them. The platform may introduce a nominal subscription fee in future, but no amount has yet been fixed. Saarthis will also be eligible for insurance and social-security benefits, while an SBI facility for lower-interest car loans and a dedicated driver welfare wing are planned.
 
Kataria said the initiative would promote “dignity of labour, cooperative ownership, technological self-reliance and inclusive growth” and provide Chandigarh with a safe, affordable and reliable mobility option.
 
Mohol said nearly 10 lakh drivers had registered nationally, including over one lakh from Chandigarh. Bharat Taxi is also planned for Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar in the coming months.