New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Taxi, marking a strategic push to introduce regulated, passenger-friendly cab services and strengthen last-mile connectivity at Indian airports.

The agreement was formalised by AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar as part of efforts to enhance travel convenience for passengers arriving at and departing from selected airport terminals.

Under the collaboration, AAI will work with Bharat Taxi, India’s first driver-owned cooperative ride-hailing platform, to roll out organised taxi services at airport premises that are transparent and passenger-centric. Unlike many existing ride-hailing models, the cooperative framework emphasises fair and transparent pricing with no surge charges, ensuring travellers aren’t subject to sudden fare spikes during peak times.

Bharat Taxi is promoted by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and backed by major cooperative institutions. The platform’s model is designed to empower drivers by giving them ownership and a stake in the business, while prioritising service reliability and affordability for passengers.

According to the MoU, the new service is expected to be launched at key regional airports including Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Bhuj, Pune, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Agra. More locations may be included as the tie-up progresses and operations scale up.

The initiative dovetails with larger national goals such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Sahakar se Samriddhi and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, reflecting a push toward cooperative entrepreneurship and more inclusive transport solutions.

BI Bureau