Maharashtra to Launch Cooperative Taxi Aggregator Service; Fadnavis Orders Immediate Framing of Rules
Mumbai, 4th June 2026: In a major boost for taxi drivers across Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Transport Department to immediately frame regulations for a cooperative app-based taxi aggregator service. The initiative aims to provide greater financial security, social welfare benefits and ownership opportunities to lakhs of drivers currently working under private ride-hailing platforms.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held at Mantralaya to review the launch of Sahakar Taxi Co-operative Limited (Bharat Taxi). The meeting was attended by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Minister of State Madhuri Misal, legislators, the Transport Commissioner and senior government officials.
Fadnavis said the proposed cooperative model has the potential to improve the economic condition of taxi drivers while ensuring long-term social security. He instructed officials to prepare the necessary rules and regulatory framework at the earliest, adding that the state government would approve the service once the regulations are finalized.
Drivers to Become Owners
Addressing the meeting, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said that drivers associated with existing private taxi aggregators often do not receive adequate social security benefits. He noted that the cooperative model seeks to transform drivers from service providers into stakeholders by giving them a sense of ownership in the platform.
“The objective is not merely to provide employment but to empower drivers economically by making them partners in the system,” Sarnaik said.
He also revealed that the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is developing a ride-hailing application named ‘Chhava’, which is expected to support the state’s cooperative transportation initiative.
Mumbai Launch Planned First
Officials said the Bharat Taxi service will initially be launched in Mumbai before being expanded to Pune and Nagpur. The project is being implemented under the broader cooperative movement promoted by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
Colonel Himanshu, associated with the initiative, said the service has been designed to ensure that drivers receive both economic opportunities and social protection.
Insurance and Welfare Benefits
Under the proposed cooperative taxi service, drivers and their families will be entitled to a range of welfare measures, including health insurance, accident coverage and family insurance benefits.
The initiative will also facilitate access to loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana at an interest rate of around 9.5 percent. Drivers and their families will additionally be eligible for healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The state government believes the cooperative model will provide a sustainable alternative to private app-based taxi services while ensuring greater financial stability and welfare protection for drivers.
If implemented successfully, the initiative could significantly reshape Maharashtra’s urban transport sector by placing drivers at the centre of the business model and reducing their dependence on private aggregator platforms.
