1 week ago
Mumbai RTO Enforces Marathi Requirement, Notices 422 Drivers
Mumbai officials checked taxi and autorickshaw drivers to see whether they could use Marathi in practical situations.
They checked 1,430 drivers and gave notices to 422 of them.
A notice is not an immediate punishment or loss of a badge.
The drivers have one month to learn more Marathi and explain their situation.
If they do not comply, their badges could be suspended for up to three months.
Continued non-compliance could lead to badge and permit cancellation.
Some drivers say they completed Marathi classes but are still waiting for certificates.
The government says the rule is meant to help drivers communicate with passengers in Marathi.
Mumbai RTO flying squads checked 1,430 taxi and autorickshaw drivers on August 20, 2026.
Officials issued show-cause notices to 422 drivers for inadequate practical Marathi skills.
Inspections took place at transport hubs including Bandra, Goregaon, Kurla, Dadar, Borivali and Wadala.
Notified drivers have one month to improve their Marathi skills and explain why further action should not be taken.
Drivers who completed training said delays and queues at RTO offices are making certificates difficult to obtain.
- Who
- Mumbai RTO flying squads and taxi and autorickshaw drivers.
- What
- Officials inspected Marathi communication skills and issued 422 show-cause notices among 1,430 drivers checked.
- Where
- Major Mumbai transport hubs, including Bandra, Goregaon, Kurla, Dadar, Borivali, Wadala, Tardeo and Andheri.
- When
- The first enforcement exercise took place on August 20, 2026; drivers were given one month to comply.
- Why
- The Maharashtra government says the requirement is intended to ensure drivers can communicate effectively with passengers in Marathi.
Government rationale
Drivers' concerns
Purpose of the Marathi requirement
Government rationale
The government says the rule is intended to ensure taxi and autorickshaw drivers can communicate effectively with passengers in Marathi.
Drivers' concerns
Drivers quoted in the report said they are ready to learn Marathi and have attended training, but their concerns focus on proving compliance rather than rejecting the language requirement.
Certification process
Government rationale
The transport department has established Marathi training and requires evidence of compliance, while enforcement has now begun.
Drivers' concerns
Drivers who completed the training said collecting certificates involves repeated RTO visits, long queues, limited counters and lost working time.
Effect of administrative delays
Government rationale
Drivers who do not comply within the one-month window may face badge suspension and, eventually, badge and permit cancellation.
Drivers' concerns
Drivers said certificate delays could leave trained drivers unable to demonstrate compliance when inspected, potentially creating uncertainty over penalties.
Key facts
- Drivers checked
- 1,430 taxi and autorickshaw drivers
- Notices issued
- 422 show-cause notices
- Compliance period
- One month
- Possible initial penalty
- Badge suspension for up to three months
- Further penalty
- Continued non-compliance could result in badge and permit cancellation
- Training participation
- Around 1.65 lakh non-Marathi-speaking taxi and autorickshaw drivers participated in the Marathi training campaign
- New applicants
- New taxi and autorickshaw badge applicants will have Marathi communication assessed through direct interaction with RTO officials, with the assessment video-recorded
Quotes
Taxi driver who completed the course in August
A taxi driver concerned about certification delays
“We are ready to learn Marathi. We attended the classes and completed the training. But if the certificate is delayed, how do we prove that we have complied with the rule when the RTO starts checking us?”
freepressjournal.in
“I have to drive the taxi every day to earn. If I spend an entire day at the RTO, I lose that day’s income. We have completed the classes, but getting the certificate is another struggle.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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