Driver-Owned Bharat Taxi App Rolls Out: 100% Fare for Drivers, No Surge Pricing for Riders

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The Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah announced in the Lok Sabha that the government is preparing to launch the Bharat Taxi app. It is basically a cooperative mobility platform, which will greatly benefit drivers and passengers across India by introducing 0% platform commission and reduced ride fees. 

Shah informed that the platform will operate through a multi-state cooperative called Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd under the MSCS Act.

Zero-Commission Model: How Drivers Gain Ownership and Higher Earnings

Bharat Taxi will operate on a zero-commission structure for its drivers. This model ensures that drivers will receive the full fare paid by the passengers for their trip. This initiative operates differently from the commission-based system used by other private platforms. 

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Private ride-hailing platforms often charge up to 25% of the fare from drivers' earnings. However, instead of a per-ride cut, the new cooperative will enable operations through a modest membership fee. This small, flat fee can be collected daily, weekly, or monthly from the drivers. 

Any extra profits generated by the cooperative will be distributed directly to its members. This framework provides a greater sense of ownership to the drivers over their work and income. The cooperative system positions drivers as co-owners, not just service providers. Overall, its goal is to provide a fair income and financial autonomy to commercial vehicle drivers.

Key Features: Predictable Fares, Safety, and Multi-Vehicle Integration

The Bharat Taxi platform is designed to ensure transparency and predictability in fares for all passengers. It will discard the surge pricing that usually occurs during peak hours or bad weather conditions. The fares remain fixed and unchanged, thus making the cost clear, steady, and upfront for the users. This feature will, therefore, reduce disputes while increasing user trust in the service.

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Safety for passengers and drivers is one of the priorities of the service. As a result, it offers real-time vehicle tracking and safe, verified onboarding of drivers. The cooperative has also joined hands with the Delhi Police for the launch to ensure safety for riders.

Additionally, it is a multi-vehicle platform that allows it to register and integrate two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, and four-wheeler taxis under a single unified platform. The app aims to solve first-mile and last-mile mobility issues faced by commuters.