Yogi Adityanath Launches Bharat Taxi In Uttar Pradesh; Service Goes Live In Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur And Prayagraj

Infrastructure

Swarajya Staff

Sep 24, 2026 | Updated 08:47 AM GMT+5:30

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Bharat Taxi in the state yesterday (23 September), introducing a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform that operates on a zero-commission model.

The service is now operational in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj, offering drivers social security coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh along with a stake in the cooperative's ownership structure.

The platform, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, allows taxi, two-wheeler and three-wheeler drivers to register without surrendering commission from their ride earnings.

Unlike conventional app-based services where drivers pay a portion of fares to aggregators, Bharat Taxi ensures that earnings flow directly to its driver-members, referred to as Sarathis.

During the launch event in Lucknow, five Bharat Taxi drivers received share certificates highlighting the cooperative ownership model behind the service.

Memoranda of understanding were signed with institutions including Lucknow Airport, Lucknow Metro and Lucknow Police to facilitate operations.

Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol stated that more than 10 lakh Sarathis have joined Bharat Taxi within six months of its February 2026 launch, with around 20,000 rides undertaken daily across all operational regions.

Chief Minister Adityanath also directed the Transport Department to explore extending the Bharat Taxi model to rural bus services, aiming to expand transportation options in villages while creating employment opportunities.

The platform has already been rolled out across Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, positioning itself as a driver-centric alternative in India's ride-hailing sector.

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