Bharat Taxi launch in Telangana: Transport unions seek priority

HYDERABAD: Several major transport workers’ groups have formally asked the Union Ministry of Cooperation and the CEO of Bharat Taxi to make Telangana a top priority for the quick launch of the government-backed ride service. Meanwhile, they argue that current private ride apps are putting drivers under serious financial stress. Shaik Salauddin, who leads the [...]<strong>HYDERABAD:</strong> Several major transport workers’ groups have formally asked the Union Ministry of Cooperation and the CEO of Bharat Taxi to make Telangana a top priority for the quick launch of the government-backed ride service. Meanwhile, they argue that current private ride apps are putting drivers under serious financial stress. Shaik Salauddin, who leads the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers(IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union(TGPWU), sent his request to Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Ministry Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, and Bharat Taxi CEO Col. Himanshu. In his appeal, he asked them to launch the service in Telangana as soon as possible. This request comes as the Ministry of Cooperation has said that the ride platform is growing fast across India. For example, as of August 4, 2026, it had signed up 848,000 drivers and 4,427,000 customers, and drivers have earned a total of ₹83.7 crore. Bharat Taxi is already running in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Additionally, it is slowly rolling out in other states too. Salauddin said Telangana should be put first for the next stage of the platform’s expansion. Specifically, he pointed out that drivers working for Ola, Uber, and Rapido in Telangana face poor working conditions. He said these drivers have to work very long hours and deal with heavy financial pressure. He also argued that private ride apps take too much commission from drivers, which he called exploitation. Furthermore, Salauddin said drivers’ hard work should not be treated like a product to be sold, and he believes Bharat Taxi could be a fairer choice for drivers. Salauddin also said that if Bharat Taxi launches, it should not charge less than the rates set by the Telangana government. To clarify, he mentioned the current rules, called G.O. Ms. No. 46, which set the standard for taxi fares. He urged Bharat Taxi to follow these government prices. He stressed that Bharat Taxi should truly follow the idea that drivers are the owners. Moreover, he called for a system with fair fares, clear earnings, and respect for every driver.