Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to become the country’s largest airport by 2030, adding that improvements in public transport infrastructure are helping Mumbai emerge as one of the world’s top 20 cities. He was speaking at the launch of the BharatTaxi service at the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The cooperative-based taxi service has been introduced jointly by the Maharashtra government and the Union Ministry of Cooperation.
Mr Fadnavis flagged off the Bharat Taxi service, describing it as a driver-centric cooperative mobility initiative aimed at generating employment while providing affordable, transparent and reliable transport for passengers. “The initiative is a significant step towards realising the vision of employment through cooperation and prosperity through employment. It will economically empower taxi drivers,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the cooperative sector was witnessing renewed growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
“After Delhi and Gujarat, the Bharat Taxi service has now been launched in Maharashtra. It is not merely a taxi-booking app but a driver-centric cooperative model, where drivers will not only operate vehicles but will also be owners and stakeholders in the cooperative society. This will ensure that they receive a direct share of the profits generated by the business. This willnot only economically empower drivers but will also infuse new energy into the cooperative sector,” the CM said.
Mr Fadnavis said that unlike many app-based taxi aggregators, Bharat Taxi would not levy surge pricing or hidden charges. “It will have a transparent fare structure. Passengers will get a credible, safe and affordable service, while drivers will receive fair remuneration for their work,” he said.
App-based taxi services typically implement surge pricing during periods of high demand, such as heavy rainfall, peak hours, festivals or traffic congestion, resulting in fares that can be significantly higher than normal rates.
Mr Fadnavis said Mumbai has one of the world’s safest and most efficient public transport systems, but added that the city also needs a modern, technology-driven and credible app-based taxi service to strengthen its global competitiveness. He said Bharat Taxi would help achieve that objective.
Referring to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Late D.B. Patil Cooperative Transport Association, the Chief Minister said local landowners and residents around the Navi Mumbai International Airport would be provided bank loans to purchase taxis. The project is expected to generate 3,000 to 4,000 jobs. “The service will provide safer travel for women and offer every passenger arriving in Mumbai an experience marked by trust, safety and transparency,” he said.
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