Air travel in India may soon become a little less stressful.
Thanks to a new partnership between the Airports Authority of India and Bharat Taxi, passengers could get fixed-fare airport taxi services — without worrying about surge pricing.
No More Surprise Fare Hikes
Many air travellers have faced the same problem.
You land at the airport, open a ride-hailing app, and the fare is suddenly much higher than expected.
Peak hours, bad weather, or late-night travel often trigger “surge pricing,” making rides expensive and unpredictable.
To solve this, AAI has partnered with Bharat Taxi to offer:
Fixed per-kilometre fares
No surge pricing
Transparent billing
No hidden charges
The aim is to make airport travel smoother and more affordable.
Where Will This Service Start?
The agreement, signed on February 5, will introduce Bharat Taxi services in phases at 11 AAI-operated airports.
These include airports in:
Pune
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
Rajkot
Patna
Varanasi
Vadodara
Surat
Bhuj
Kanpur
Prayagraj
Agra
Passengers flying to or from these cities can expect more predictable taxi fares in the near future.
What Makes Bharat Taxi Different?
Unlike popular ride-hailing apps, Bharat Taxi works on a cooperative model.
This means the drivers themselves own the platform. Instead of giving a large commission to a company, drivers keep most of their earnings after basic operational costs.
The model is supported by the National Cooperative Development Corporation and other cooperative institutions.
The goal is to ensure fair income for drivers while offering reasonable prices to passengers.
Bookings can be made through the dedicated Bharat Taxi app, making the process simple and direct.
A Step Toward Fairer Travel
For passengers, this could mean fewer last-minute shocks at the airport.
For drivers, it offers better earnings and more control over their work.
The move also supports larger national goals like “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Sahakar se Samriddhi,” promoting cooperative business models within India’s growing gig economy.
If implemented successfully, this initiative could make airport travel more transparent, affordable, and fair — for both travellers and drivers.
