Auto Drivers Protest Marathi Rule On Kandivali Link Road, Slowing Traffic

Traffic movement on Kandivali Link Road in Mumbai was disrupted on Monday after a group of auto-rickshaw drivers halted their vehicles on the corridor to protest against the state government's Marathi language requirement.

The demonstration led to a traffic jam along the Link Road stretch, slowing vehicular movement for approximately 20 minutes and causing inconvenience to motorists and daily commuters. Traffic police personnel reached the spot to disperse the crowd, clear the roadway, and restore normal vehicular flow.

Allegations also emerged that some auto-rickshaw drivers operating with passengers were threatened during the protest. It was further alleged that non-Marathi-speaking drivers blocked the thoroughfare as part of the demonstration against the state government's mandate.

The protest in Kandivali occurred amid an ongoing statewide enforcement campaign by Regional Transport Office (RTO) squads testing the practical Marathi skills of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. The assessment evaluates a driver's ability to communicate with passengers during routine travel and manage basic interactions in Marathi, rather than testing reading or writing proficiency.

According to transport department data, RTO personnel tested 9,233 drivers across Maharashtra on the second day of the drive, issuing notices to 1,499 drivers who were found lacking practical Marathi knowledge. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region alone, 3,942 vehicle owners and drivers were assessed on Day 2, with 722 receiving notices for failing to meet the requirement. Outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 5,291 drivers were evaluated, leading to 777 notices.

The Day 2 figures followed testing on Day 1, when RTO squads inspected 1,430 drivers and served 422 notices. In total, the two-day statewide drive resulted in 1,921 notices being issued to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra.