Jaipur, May 20 (IANS) After being introduced in cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chandigarh, the cooperative-model “Bharat Taxi” service is now set to expand to Jaipur and other cities, with its Jaipur launch scheduled for the first week of June.

The service aims to provide affordable and safe transport to commuters while ensuring better earnings and ownership rights for taxi drivers.

Rajasthan Minister of State (MoS) for Cooperation (Independent Charge), Gautam Kumar Dak, said on Wednesday that “Bharat Taxi”, India’s first cooperative-model taxi service, will soon be launched in Jaipur, offering affordable and safe transportation to the public while strengthening the economic condition of drivers.

Addressing drivers during the “Bharat Taxi Dialogue” programme held at the Apex Bank auditorium in Jaipur, Dak added that the service, after being introduced in cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chandigarh, is now set to expand to Jaipur and other cities.

The MoS said that Bharat Taxi is a unique initiative in which taxi drivers themselves will be the owners of the company instead of any private corporate entity.

The service is based on four key principles — ownership, security, respect and equitable profit-sharing.

“The taxi driver will be the real owner of the company,” Dak said, adding that no driver’s account would be suspended without giving them an opportunity to be heard.

He also said that the service would free drivers from hidden charges and arbitrary practices of private companies.

According to the MoS, the cooperative taxi model will provide drivers with better choices and improve their confidence, livelihood and economic status.

He urged drivers to spread awareness about Bharat Taxi and encourage more people to join the initiative.

During the interaction session, several drivers shared their experiences and suggestions, saying that they often face exploitation while working with private aggregator companies and do not receive the expected increase in earnings.

Drivers welcomed the launch of Bharat Taxi, saying that the service being operated through indigenous cooperative institutions would ensure that profits remain within the country.

They also said the initiative would help them escape arbitrary subscription charges imposed by private firms.

The drivers assured full cooperation in making Rajasthan a model state for the successful operation of Bharat Taxi.

Among those present on the occasion were Special Assistant Suraj Singh Negi, Additional Registrar (Human Resource Management) Bhomaram, Apex Bank Managing Director Ranjit Singh Chundawat, and Bharat Taxi Jaipur City Head Abhishek Charan.

–IANS

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