Auto Shortage Hits Mumbai Commuters Over New Marathi Language Mandate

Commuters across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region faced widespread travel disruptions on Monday morning as a severe shortage of autorickshaws and taxis left thousands of office-goers stranded, particularly on feeder routes in suburbs such as Kandivali.

The disruption heavily impacted transit connecting residential neighbourhoods to railway stations during peak rush hours, with more than half of the city's auto drivers reportedly choosing to stay off the roads.

The sudden reduction in service comes amid growing unease among drivers over a recent state government mandate requiring auto and taxi operators to demonstrate a working knowledge of Marathi.

Under the new rules, drivers who fail to meet the Marathi requirement may initially receive a one-month show-cause notice to improve their conversational skills. Continued failure to comply can lead to a three-month suspension of their licences, followed by the cancellation of both their licence and permit in cases of persistent non-compliance.

Despite the large-scale disruption on the streets, autorickshaw and taxi unions stated that there was no official call for a strike.

The absence of vehicles forced commuters across several suburbs to endure unusually long waits or rely on alternative modes of transport, leading to widespread office delays. An office-goer from Kandivali described the situation during the morning commute as unprecedented.