Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched Bharat Taxi in the state along with the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, which reduces the interest rate on eligible long-term agricultural loans from 11% to 6%.
Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, has been launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Drivers joining the platform will operate under a zero-commission model, while the state government has announced social security coverage of up to ₹5 lakh for participating drivers.
Bharat Taxi Drivers to Get Zero-Commission Model
Under Bharat Taxi, taxi, two-wheeler and three-wheeler drivers can register as Saarthis and operate without paying a platform commission, according to the government.
Read Also: Uttar Pradesh’s GCC Policy Offers Up to ₹25 Crore Capital Subsidy, Payroll and Opex Support
The platform follows a cooperative ownership model in which drivers can become members of the cooperative. The Union government describes the model as moving from a conventional driver-partner arrangement towards a “Sarathi-owner” structure.
The Bharat Taxi platform is part of a wider cooperative mobility model. According to the government, more than 10 lakh Saarthis have joined the platform nationwide within six months, with around 20,000 rides being completed daily. More than ₹100 crore has also been credited to Saarthis through the platform. In Uttar Pradesh, around 40,000 registrations have been recorded across Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.
At the launch, Yogi Adityanath said registered drivers would also receive social security coverage of up to ₹5 lakh.
Bharat Taxi has also signed MoUs with Lucknow Airport, Lucknow Metro Rail and Lucknow Police.
Farmer Loan Interest Cut From 11% to 6%
The newly launched Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana reduces the interest rate on long-term loans provided through the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Rural Development Bank from 11% to 6%, according to the Chief Minister.
The scheme is aimed at providing long-term credit for agricultural activities and machinery, with a target of extending its benefits to five lakh small and marginal farmers over the coming years.
New Cooperative Digital Platforms Launched
Yogi Adityanath also launched the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana portal, the Cooperation Department’s Urvarak Setu mobile app and the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Database Centre (UPCDC) mobile app.
Five Bharat Taxi Saarthis were presented with share certificates, while five beneficiaries of the farmer scheme received loan sanction letters during the programme.
Yogi Cites Cooperative Sector Measures
Addressing the event, the Chief Minister highlighted the expansion of the cooperative sector in Uttar Pradesh. He said 54 lakh new members had joined cooperatives and claimed that 15 of the state’s 16 cooperative banks that had become inactive before 2017 had returned to profitability.
He also said the interest-free cash-credit facility available to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) had been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh.
Yogi also referred to the state’s agricultural measures, including loan waivers for small and marginal farmers and the expansion of irrigation facilities. He said more than ₹36,000 crore in loans of 86 lakh small and marginal farmers had been waived after his government came to power in 2017.
Bharat Taxi Flagged Off in Lucknow
The Chief Minister, Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and other officials flagged off Bharat Taxi at the launch event.
The service is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited and is part of the cooperative-based mobility model promoted by the Ministry of Cooperation.
Read Also: Yogi Adityanath Calls for Stronger Organisation, Highlights UP’s Economic and Development Push
