Lucknow, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched Bharat Taxi and the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, announcing measures aimed at strengthening social security for taxi and other platform drivers and reducing the cost of credit for farmers.
Under Bharat Taxi, taxi, two-wheeler and three-wheeler drivers can register on the platform and operate under a zero-commission model. According to the state government, registered drivers will also receive social security coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Launching the initiatives, Yogi said the cooperative sector could become a means of prosperity when supported by effective leadership. He also noted that India has had a separate Ministry of Cooperation for the first time since Independence and said the impact of the sector’s reforms was becoming visible.
The Chief Minister said drivers of taxis, two-wheelers and three-wheelers had traditionally received limited attention. He said Bharat Taxi would bring them onto a platform without commission deductions while providing social security cover.
“Bharat Taxi is not merely a taxi that carries passengers. It is a taxi of India, which will work to transform India’s speed into progress,” Yogi said.
Bharat Taxi has been launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj. Memoranda of understanding have also been signed with institutions including Lucknow Airport, Lucknow Metro and Lucknow Police to support its operations.
Recalling the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025, Yogi said thousands of young people had used motorcycles through platforms such as Rapido to transport devotees to the Sangam and connect the Sangam with railway stations and the airport. He asked Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh to explore expanding rural bus services on a similar model, saying it could create employment opportunities for lakhs of young people.
The Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, meanwhile, seeks to lower borrowing costs for farmers. Yogi said loans extended through the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Rural Development Bank, which previously carried an interest rate of 11 per cent, would now be available at 6 per cent.
Highlighting changes in the state’s cooperative banking sector, he said 16 cooperative banks had become inactive before 2017 and lost their licences despite farmers having deposited thousands of crores of rupees with them. According to the Chief Minister, 15 of these banks have since returned to profitability, while efforts are continuing to revive the remaining bank.
The interest-free cash credit facility for Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) has also been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, while 54 lakh new members have joined the cooperative sector, he said.
The government is also strengthening digital systems for timely access to fertilisers, pesticides and other farmer services. During the programme, Yogi launched the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Portal app, UPCDC, a mobile application for fertiliser services, and the Cooperative Data Centre and its mobile app.
He also handed over Bharat Taxi share certificates to five Saarthis and loan sanction letters to five beneficiaries under the farmers’ scheme.
Bharat Taxi CEO Colonel Himanshu and Adani Airport Lucknow Chief Commercial Officer Shiv Mohan exchanged MoUs signed with various institutions. Yogi, Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and other dignitaries later flagged off Bharat Taxi, formally marking its launch in Uttar Pradesh.
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