Bharat Taxi officially launched in India: How it is different from Ola, Uber

Bharat Taxi has officially been launched in India. The app, backed by the Government of India, promises transparent fares, and better pay for drivers compared to private cab aggregators, such as Uber and Ola.

Bharat Taxi is officially here. The cooperative ride-hailing service was launched by Union Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, at an event held at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. A Bharat Taxi rally was also conducted, with drivers and customers participating to mark the launch of the service.

During the launch, Shah said, Bharat Taxi "empowers drivers as owners of profits and bestows them with respect and dignity."

The Bharat Taxi app is now available for all users in Delhi-NCR. The app was previously in a pilot phase in the region. It is expected to expand across more states and cities in the coming months.

Unlike private cab aggregators, such as Uber and Ola, Bharat Taxi not only promises better pay for drivers, but also transparent fares for customers. Bharat Taxi works on a no-commission model, allowing drivers to receive the entire fare they collect. As per the service, high commission of private apps was a big concern for cab drivers.

According to Bharat Taxi CEO Vivek Pandey, the ride-hailing service currently does not charge drivers any money. However, in the near future, drivers may need to pay a per day fee of between Rs 25 to Rs 30. This figure, Pandey states, is less than the high commission charged by the likes of Uber and Ola.

Passengers too may benefit from Bharat Taxi. The service claims that it will charge cheap fares for rides, without surge pricing. Surge pricing on private cab aggregators increases fare prices when the demand is high. Instead, the fares on Bharat Taxi will be fixed and transparent.