To compete with established ride-hailing platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the Indian government has introduced the Bharat Taxi app. Designed as a cooperative taxi service platform, the app aims to address concerns around arbitrary pricing, high commissions, and operational practices followed by private ride-booking companies.
The Bharat Taxi app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Although it has been accessible for a few months, it was initially rolled out in a beta phase for testing and user feedback.
To understand how Bharat Taxi stands apart, we installed the app and compared it with Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Unlike private ride-hailing platforms that focus primarily on cab or bike bookings, Bharat Taxi offers multiple transport-related services within a single app.
Through the Bharat Taxi app, users can book:
Local taxi rides
Bike taxi rides
Intercity rides
Rental rides
Metro tickets
To access metro ticket booking, users need to tap on the “Services” option located at the bottom of the app’s interface.
At the time of its launch, the app was promoted as operating on a cooperative model, with a focus on affordable rides, lower commission charges, and insurance facilities for drivers. Currently, the app supports Hindi, Gujarati, and English, with plans to introduce more Indian languages in future updates.
The booking process on Bharat Taxi is similar to other ride-hailing apps, making it easy for users to switch platforms.
Download the Bharat Taxi app from the Play Store or App Store
Grant the required permissions
Log in using your mobile number and OTP
Enter your name after logging in
Access services such as taxi, bike, rental, intercity, and metro bookings
The onboarding process is quick, and users can start booking rides immediately after verification.
The key difference lies in how the platform operates and how drivers are treated.
Compared to private ride-booking apps, Bharat Taxi charges a significantly lower commission from drivers. This allows drivers to retain a larger share of their earnings, unlike Ola and Uber, where commission rates are higher.
The app features a simple and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for first-time users. Riders can book:
Economy cabs
Priority cabs
Auto-rickshaws
Bike rides
For intercity travel, users can directly enter their destination on the app’s homepage and select the intercity ride option, similar to the process followed by other ride-hailing platforms.
After completing the verification process, we were able to book a cab successfully using the Bharat Taxi app. The homepage is user-friendly and offers quick access to:
Rental rides
Intercity bookings
Metro ticket services
We compared cab fares for a ride from Noida to Delhi across multiple platforms:
Bharat Taxi showed a higher fare than Uber
Rapido and some other apps also displayed higher prices
However, pricing varied depending on ride type.
When it came to bike taxi bookings, Bharat Taxi emerged as a cheaper option compared to other platforms, making it a cost-effective choice for short-distance commuters.
Bharat Taxi positions itself as a government-backed, cooperative alternative to Ola, Uber, and Rapido. While cab fares may not always be the lowest, the platform stands out due to:
Lower driver commission
Multiple transport services in one app
Metro ticket booking integration
Driver-friendly earning structure
As the app expands language support and service coverage, Bharat Taxi could become a strong alternative for users looking beyond private ride-hailing platforms.