Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Non-Marathi Drivers Block Kandivali Road Over Language Crackdown
A rule was being enforced against auto and taxi drivers who could not speak Marathi well enough.
Some migrant drivers in Mumbai said they were being harassed and warned by other drivers.
On Monday, August 24, dozens of them gathered in Kandivali.
They blocked Kandivali Link Road near Laljipada.
This kind of road protest is called a rasta-roko.
The protest lasted about 1.5 hours.
It caused traffic problems during a busy time of day.
Police sent many officers to the area.
The protest happened during the fourth day of a statewide Transport Department crackdown.
Dozens of non-Marathi-speaking auto and taxi drivers blocked Kandivali Link Road near Laljipada on Monday, August 24.
The rasta-roko lasted about 1.5 hours and disrupted peak-hour traffic in Mumbai.
The protest came on the fourth day of the Transport Department’s statewide crackdown.
Drivers said they were being harassed and warned by others to learn Marathi.
Police deployed heavily after native Marathi-speaking drivers were accused of stopping migrant drivers.
- Who
- Dozens of non-Marathi-speaking migrant auto and taxi drivers; the Transport Department and police were also involved.
- What
- The drivers staged a rasta-roko to protest the crackdown and alleged harassment and warnings from other drivers.
- When
- Monday, August 24; the protest lasted about 1.5 hours and occurred on the fourth day of the crackdown.
- Where
- Kandivali Link Road near Laljipada in Mumbai.
- Why
- The drivers were protesting enforcement against those lacking Marathi proficiency and alleged that some native Marathi-speaking drivers were stopping and warning them to learn the language.
Language-rule enforcement
Drivers protesting alleged harassment
Marathi proficiency requirement
Language-rule enforcement
The Transport Department was conducting a statewide crackdown on auto and taxi drivers who lacked proficiency in Marathi.
Drivers protesting alleged harassment
Non-Marathi-speaking drivers opposed the crackdown and said they were being targeted and warned to learn the language.
Interactions among drivers
Language-rule enforcement
Some native Marathi-speaking drivers were reported to have stopped migrant drivers over the language issue.
Drivers protesting alleged harassment
The migrant drivers described these encounters as harassment and said they feared continued warnings from others in the drivers’ community.
Road blockade
Language-rule enforcement
The protest disrupted traffic during peak hours and led to a heavy police deployment.
Drivers protesting alleged harassment
The drivers used the rasta-roko to publicly protest what they described as unfair treatment.
- Protest location
- Kandivali Link Road near Laljipada, Mumbai
- Protest duration
- About 1.5 hours
- Participants
- Dozens of non-Marathi-speaking auto and taxi drivers
- Trigger
- A Transport Department crackdown on drivers lacking Marathi proficiency
- Crackdown status
- The fourth day of a statewide enforcement drive
- Traffic impact
- Peak-hour disruption on a Monday
- Police response
- Heavy police deployment