Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced in Parliament that the government will launch a new service called ‘Sahkar Taxi’. This service is a cooperative-based ride-hailing platform aimed at helping drivers keep all their earnings.
Similar to popular services like Ola and Uber, ‘Sahkar Taxi‘ will let cooperative groups register different types of vehicles such as two-wheelers, taxis, rickshaws, and cars, without anyone taking a share of the drivers’ money.
While speaking in Lok Sabha, Shah said that this project is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
“This is not just a slogan. The Ministry of Cooperation has worked relentlessly for three and a half years to implement this on the ground. In a few months, a major cooperative taxi service will be launched, ensuring direct profit flow to the drivers,” the Home Minister said.
Concerns Grow Over Ride Prices On Ola And Uber
The announcement comes as there is growing concern about the pricing practices of major ride-hailing platforms, Ola and Uber, following accusations of unfair pricing.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) recently sent notices to both companies after reports suggested that ride prices were different depending on whether a person used an iPhone or an Android phone to book a ride.
In response, Ola denied the claims of price discrimination. “We have a uniform pricing structure for all our customers and do not charge differently based on the type of phone a customer uses for the same ride,” the company said. Ola also mentioned that it had explained this to the CCPA.
Uber Responds To Price Discrimination Claims
Uber also denied the accusations, saying that prices are not based on the type of phone a rider uses. “We do not set prices based on a rider’s phone manufacturer. We look forward to working with the CCPA to resolve any misunderstanding,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The issue gained attention in December 2024 when a social media post on X showed two phones with different prices for the same Uber ride, leading to a lot of debate.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi spoke about the issue, calling the different pricing an “unfair trade practice”. He also announced that the government would investigate pricing in other industries, like food delivery and online ticketing, to protect consumers from unfair practices.
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