Bharat Taxi Bihar is set to launch by the end of November in Patna, Gaya, Vaishali and Muzaffarpur, giving passengers a new app-based taxi and auto-booking option while allowing participating drivers to become members, co-owners and shareholders of the service.
The rollout is being coordinated by Bihar’s transport department, which reviewed preparations at a meeting chaired by transport secretary Raj Kumar at Vishweshwaraiya Bhawan. Officials discussed vehicle and driver registration, permit compliance, the technology platform and promotional activities ahead of the first-phase launch.
The customer app has been activated and testing has been completed, officials said. Raj Kumar directed the departments involved to finish the remaining preparations within the stipulated timeline. He said the service would provide another transport option for passengers and drivers while promoting transparency and technology-led services in the taxi sector.
Transport commissioner Arif Ahsan said Bharat Taxi was expected to offer passengers a safe and convenient travel option. The department is also working with driver associations to bring more local auto and cab drivers onto the platform, according to officials.
Around 2,005 drivers in Bihar have already joined Bharat Taxi, its chief executive officer, Col Himanshu, said. The platform’s first-phase coverage will include Patna, the state capital, as well as Gaya, Vaishali and Muzaffarpur. The supplied report did not specify the number of vehicles expected to be operational in each city at launch.
Bharat Taxi is structured as a cooperative service. Drivers, referred to as sarathis, can become members, co-owners and shareholders of the cooperative, with representation on its management board. This is different from conventional ride-hailing arrangements in which drivers generally provide services through a platform without an ownership stake in the operating business.
According to Col Himanshu, the model is intended to reduce drivers’ dependence on per-ride commission deductions. The impact of that structure on fares, driver earnings and service availability will depend on the platform’s operating arrangements after the launch. The transport department’s preparations include checking vehicle and driver registrations and ensuring permit compliance before the service begins.
For passengers, the app will support taxi and auto bookings and provide fare and vehicle information. It will also include safety-related features intended to support safer travel, including for women passengers. The announcement does not specify the fares, service hours, vehicle categories or the mechanism through which complaints will be handled.
The launch brings together the state transport department, Patna Municipal Corporation, traffic police, district transport officials, driver unions and Bharat Taxi representatives. Patna Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, DIG traffic Sushant Kumar Saroj, Patna DTO Upendra Pal, representatives of the Bihar Motor Cab Drivers Union and the Patna Cab Drivers Union attended the review meeting.
The next formal milestone is the planned rollout across Patna, Gaya, Vaishali and Muzaffarpur by the end of November, after the remaining registration, compliance, technology and promotional preparations are completed.
