Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday acknowledged initial challenges in the rollout of the government-backed cooperative ride-hailing platform ‘Bharat Taxi’, while responding in the Rajya Sabha.
Shah said the platform is facing stiff competition from established private aggregators that already have deep market penetration. He noted that these players pose a significant challenge in terms of scale, customer base, and brand recall.
Another key issue, he said, is the digital adoption barrier among certain sections of driver-partners. Many drivers are still adapting to app-based systems, which affects onboarding speed and service efficiency.
The Minister added that efforts are underway to address these concerns through awareness campaigns, training programs, and improved user experience backed by e-governance tools. The focus remains on strengthening participation and ensuring smoother integration of drivers into the platform.
Bharat Taxi, launched in February 2026, is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing service, designed to provide a zero-commission, driver-owned alternative in the mobility sector.
