Mumbai: BJP MLC Pravin Darekar has announced that the Maharashtra government will soon launch "Devabhau" and "Chhava" cooperative taxi services in Mumbai, claiming it will curb hefty commissions charged by private aggregators and directly benefit drivers and vehicle owners.
Darekar told reporters on Monday that the proposed service would be modelled on the "Bharat Taxi" initiative operating in cities like Delhi and Kolkata, and seeks to provide an alternative to aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido, which he accused of charging excessive commissions.
The announcement, however, drew sharp criticism from social activist Anjali Damania and the Opposition Congress, which questioned the proposed use of Mumbai Bank funds and the political branding of the scheme.
Darekar is the chairman of the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd, popularly known as Mumbai Bank.
Referring to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah's role in the Bharat Taxi project, Darekar said the initiative had benefited drivers and vehicle owners by reducing their dependence on private taxi aggregators.
"In places where private taxi companies charge exorbitant commissions and extract money from drivers, Bharat Taxi has helped curb such practices. Drivers and owners have benefited. On similar lines, Devabhau Taxi and Chhava Taxi services will now be introduced in Mumbai and the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) region," he said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently chaired a meeting and gave the project a green signal, while Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had finalised the policy framework, Darekar said.
"All rules and regulations have been prepared. Devabhau Sahakar Taxi service will soon commence operations in Mumbai and the MMRDA area," he informed.
"The profit will directly go to drivers and vehicle owners. Passengers will receive better services and drivers will benefit. Registration is already underway on a large scale," he added.
The legislator said between 2,000 and 5,000 vehicles would be inducted in the first phase, with the initial rollout planned across the MMRDA region.
The scheme aims to generate employment for Marathi youth, prevent the exploitation of drivers and passengers through private apps, and provide safe, affordable and accessible taxi services, he emphasised.
Under the proposal, taxi operators would be eligible for loans from Mumbai Bank at 10 per cent interest for vehicle purchases. The scheme also envisages an 11 per cent interest reimbursement subsidy through the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, the OBC Corporation, the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes Corporation and the Maharashtra State Development Corporation, reducing the interest burden on beneficiaries.
The project is being promoted under the slogan "Apali Taxi, Apali Malaki" (Our Taxi, Our Ownership), with drivers retaining ownership of their vehicles.
Darekar said individuals with valid driving licenses and existing vehicle owners would be eligible to participate.
Activist Damania, however, criticised the proposal.
"'Devabhau Taxi'? As many as 2,000 taxis will be provided? And using the money of Mumbai Bank depositors?" she asked in a post on X.
Damania questioned whether Mumbai Bank was being treated as a "private bank of the BJP", arguing that ordinary citizens, farmers and small entrepreneurs often struggle to secure loans while a politically branded scheme appeared to be receiving easy access to institutional finance.
"Using depositors' money to build a business carrying a political name is completely unacceptable. This name should be cancelled immediately and Fadnavis should withdraw it on his own," she said.
Damania also demanded that authorities disclose the eligibility criteria for loans, interest rates, approval procedures and any potential conflicts of interest.
"Mumbai Bank belongs to the people. It is not the private treasury of any leader or the BJP," she asserted.
Maharashtra Congress general secretary Dhananjay Shinde said questions raised by Damania were serious.
"Mumbai Bank belongs to depositors, farmers and working people. It is not the private property of any political party or leader," Shinde said.
He claimed that test audit reports of the Maharashtra Cooperation Department had previously recorded observations about certain transactions, administrative procedures and decision-making processes within Mumbai Bank.
"In such a situation, concerns regarding the use of depositors' funds for politically branded schemes such as 'Devabhau Taxi' are extremely serious and warrant a thorough investigation," he said.
Shinde also noted that Darekar's election (to the bank) and questions regarding eligibility had been the subject of legal disputes and court proceedings.
"Against this backdrop, complete transparency and accountability are required in all election-related processes, eligibility criteria and decision-making within the bank," he said.
The Congress leader demanded that Mumbai Bank immediately provide public clarification on the complete financial blueprint of the taxi scheme, loan approval criteria, beneficiary selection mechanisms, possible conflicts of interest and whether depositors' funds were being linked to political branding.
"The cooperative sector is built on public trust. Therefore, any matter that creates suspicion must be subjected to an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry," he added.
