Dehradun: Uttarakhand: Baharat Taxi Service: Uttarakhand is set to soon launch ‘Bharat Taxi Service’, a cooperative-based taxi platform aimed at providing a strong alternative to private aggregators like Ola and Uber. Unlike corporate taxi models, this initiative will ensure that drivers are not merely service providers but the full owners of their vehicles. The plan was earlier announced by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, and preparations are now underway to implement it in Uttarakhand.
Focus on Driver Welfare, Not Corporate Profit
Uttarakhand’s Cooperation Minister Dhan Singh Rawat stated that the core objective of Bharat Taxi Service is not commission-based capital accumulation, as seen in large corporate companies, but to ensure that taxi drivers referred to as ‘Sarathis’ receive complete rights over their earnings. He emphasized that this model will help increase drivers’ income and make them economically self-reliant.
Ownership, Security, and Respect for Drivers
Under the Bharat Taxi Service, drivers will be provided with complete vehicle ownership, along with social and economic security and a dignified working environment. The cooperative model has been designed with drivers’ interests at its center, reducing their dependence on corporate platforms and ensuring fair returns for their services.
Immense Potential for the Scheme in Uttarakhand
Minister Rawat highlighted that Uttarakhand holds immense potential for the success of this initiative. Known as Devbhoomi, the state is rapidly emerging as a major hub for tourism, pilgrimage, and wedding destinations. Its natural beauty, spiritual significance, and peaceful environment continue to attract tourists from across the country and abroad.
Every year, more than 50 lakh pilgrims visit Uttarakhand during the Char Dham Yatra. In addition, over four crore tourists and devotees visited the state last year, marking a record. In this context, Bharat Taxi Service is expected to enhance travel convenience for visitors while creating significant income opportunities for local taxi drivers.
Direct Benefits for Local Drivers and Youth
Being based on a cooperative framework, Bharat Taxi Service will directly empower local drivers and provide self-employment opportunities for the youth of Uttarakhand. The initiative aims to ensure that the benefits of the taxi service ecosystem reach local communities rather than external corporate entities.
