Bharat Taxi Launches in Pune on November 15: Zero-Commission Cooperative Cab App, 50,000 Drivers Registered

Pune, 15th November 2026: Bharat Taxi, the cooperative ride-hailing platform backed by the Union Ministry of Cooperation, is set to be launched in Pune on Sunday afternoon, November 15, by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. More than 50,000 cab and autorickshaw drivers in Pune have already signed up, according to the organisers.

The launch is scheduled for 3.15 pm at the National Heavy Engineering Cooperative site in Talegaon Dabhade, as part of Shah’s two-day visit to the city, PuneNow reported. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol are also expected to attend.

What is Bharat Taxi and who owns it

Bharat Taxi is run by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a cooperative in which the drivers are the members and owners. It was registered on June 6, 2025, and started commercial service in Delhi-NCR on February 5, 2026, according to a Press Information Bureau release from the launch.

At that launch, Shah said the government was not entering the taxi business and that it was cooperation that was entering the sector. The PIB release said over 2.5 lakh drivers and 8.5 lakh passengers had joined in Delhi-NCR by February. The service also runs in some Gujarat cities, and the plan is to reach every state within three years.

How the zero-commission model works

The main difference from private apps is how money flows. According to PIB:

• Drivers pay no commission, booking fee or platform fee on their earnings.
• The passenger’s payment goes directly to the driver’s account.
• The cooperative keeps 20% of its total profit, and the rest is shared back with drivers.
• The maximum share capital a driver needs to buy is ₹500.

In Pune, organisers have also said fares will stay fixed regardless of weather, including heavy rain, which means no surge pricing. Dr Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, described the model as an attempt at “economic democracy in the transport sector”, according to PuneNow.

What it means for Pune commuters

A platform with 50,000 registered drivers on day one could give passengers another option in areas like Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Viman Nagar and the airport, where demand peaks in the morning and evening.

The app offers cabs and autorickshaws. Separate passenger and driver apps are listed on the Google Play Store, according to PuneNow. Fares for Pune have not been published yet, so it is too early to compare a typical ride, say Kothrud to Shivajinagar, with Ola or Uber. Our Pune auto fare chart shows the government-approved meter rates for comparison.

Safety features on the app

The Delhi version has an SOS button inside the app, a 24×7 helpline and grievance redressal through the app, website and a toll-free number, PIB said. A women-only option called Sarathi Didi, which would match women riders with women drivers on two-wheelers, is planned for later.

Bike taxis remain a separate and disputed issue in Maharashtra. Read our explainer on whether bike taxis are legal in Pune.

What is still not known

The cooperative has not yet announced Pune fare slabs, the date the passenger app goes live for bookings in the city, or whether airport pickups at Lohegaon are included. Details of the cooperative’s welfare benefits for Pune drivers have also not been shared. We will update this story after the launch.

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