Govt ready to jolt Uber-Ola with ‘Sahkar’ taxi

New Delhi: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah  announced that the government is set to launch ‘Sahkar’ taxi, a cooperative-run ride-hailing service modelled after Uber and Ola.

 Speaking during a debate in Lok Sabha, Shah said the initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s slogan “sahkar se samriddhi” (prosperity through cooperation).

 “In the coming months, we will establish a large-scale cooperative taxi service modelled after Uber and Ola,” he said.

 Shah further said the profits from this cooperative society will not go to businessmen but directly to the drivers. “This is the model we are bringing to life,” he said. The ride-hailing platform will cover two-wheeler taxis, auto rickshaws, and four-wheelers.

 The announcement comes amid ride-hailing giants facing flak, not just from the drivers, but also from consumers alleging differential pricing. On Monday, cab drivers in Hyderabad launched a ‘No AC’ campaign to protest against the low fares offered by ride-hailing platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido.

Earlier this year, the Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to major cab aggregators Ola and Uber following allegations of differential pricing for identical rides based on users’ mobile operating systems — Android or iOS.