Delhi residents will soon have a new option for daily commuting as Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative taxi service, is set to begin operations in the national capital from January 1. The service has been launched by the Centre as an alternative to existing app-based cab platforms and is expected to operate alongside them.

According to information shared by government sources, all preparations for the launch in Delhi have been completed. The service will function through a mobile application operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited and will follow a zero-commission model.

Multiple ride options and app-based features

Bharat Taxi will offer cars, auto-rickshaws and bikes through its platform. The app will be available on both Android and iOS devices. Users will be able to register using their mobile number, select pick-up and drop-off locations, choose a vehicle, and track their ride in real time.

The application includes features such as a transparent fare structure, real-time vehicle tracking, multilingual interface, and 24×7 customer support. Safety measures include verified driver onboarding, integration with Delhi Police and other agencies, and an option to share ride details with others.

Focus on fair pricing and ride reliability

The cooperative taxi service aims to address issues commonly faced by commuters, including surge pricing during peak hours, ride cancellations, and drivers refusing trips. Provisions have been made within the system to deal with such everyday complaints.

Officials indicated that the platform is designed to bring predictability to fares while ensuring a smoother experience for passengers.

Driver-owned model to improve earnings

A key feature of Bharat Taxi is its driver-owned cooperative structure. Under this model, drivers are expected to receive up to 80 per cent of the fare directly, supported by a monthly credit system. The initiative is intended to provide drivers with higher income and improved working conditions, reducing dependence on private cab aggregators.

Government sources said the platform offers drivers a more independent and equitable alternative for earning a livelihood.

Expansion plans beyond Delhi

As per official information, around 56,000 drivers have already registered on the Bharat Taxi app. While testing has been completed in Delhi, a similar trial is currently underway in Rajkot, Gujarat, where the service is expected to be launched on February 1.

Officials added that Bharat Taxi will be gradually expanded to more than 20 cities across the country in the coming phase.

Amid persistently hazardous air quality, the Delhi government has directed all government departments and private institutions to implement 50% work from home (WFH) for their employees starting Thursday. The decision is part of emergency steps under GRAP III and GRAP IV to curb pollution levels in the national capital.

Announcing the move, Labour Minister Kapil Mishra said the order is mandatory and warned that action will be taken against organisations that fail to comply. He stated that institutions must immediately ensure that half of their workforce operates remotely during the enforcement period of the pollution control plan.

Alongside the WFH mandate, the minister also announced financial relief of Rs 10,000 for registered construction workers who have lost employment due to the suspension of construction activities under GRAP restrictions. The compensation will cover workers affected during the 16 days of GRAP III and will continue through the GRAP IV phase.

The government clarified that essential services, including hospitals, fire services and pollution monitoring agencies, are exempt from both the work-from-home rule and the construction ban.

During the press interaction, Kapil Mishra also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of politicising the pollution crisis. He said the issue of air pollution has developed over decades and cannot be resolved within a few months, adding that the current government is actively present on the ground to manage the situation.

Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has made a claim suggesting internal differences between Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alleging that the siblings are not on the same page. The remark has triggered political discussion, though no response has come from the Congress so far.

Bittu, who joined the BJP after leaving the Congress ahead of the last general election, said Rahul Gandhi was upset after comparisons were drawn between his speeches and those of Priyanka Gandhi in Parliament. According to him, this dissatisfaction led Rahul Gandhi to leave for Germany during the ongoing Winter Session.

“The two Gandhis are fighting. I have come to know that people compared the speeches of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in the House. This upset Rahul Gandhi and he left,” Bittu told media on Tuesday

Congress yet to respond to claims

No senior Congress leader has officially reacted to Bittu’s remarks. The party has also not issued any statement addressing the allegation of a rift between the Gandhi siblings.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is currently in Berlin from December 15 to 20. He is attending an event organised by the Indian Overseas Congress, even as the Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled to conclude on December 19.

The Indian Overseas Congress has described the visit as part of an outreach programme aimed at engaging the Indian diaspora in Europe and discussing party-related issues, including NRI concerns and organisational strengthening.

Siblings seen backing each other publicly

The claims contrast with the public image of solidarity often projected by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The two are known to support each other both politically and personally.

Ahead of a recent debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi had urged reporters to listen to his sister’s speech. Priyanka Gandhi, who entered the Lok Sabha for the first time after the last general election, has also defended her brother amid criticism over his foreign visits.

Responding to questions about Rahul Gandhi’s Germany trip, Priyanka Gandhi had pointed out that the Prime Minister frequently travels abroad, questioning why similar scrutiny was being applied to the Leader of the Opposition.