Mumbai Auto Drivers Launch Three-Day Strike Over Mandatory Marathi Rule
Autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai launched a three-day strike on Monday to protest the Maharashtra government's practical Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi, and cab drivers, leading to traffic disruptions on Kandivali Link Road.
The demonstration on Kandivali Link Road saw a group of autorickshaw drivers halt their vehicles directly on the roadway to protest against the state mandate. The blockade slowed vehicular movement for approximately 20 minutes, causing traffic congestion and inconveniencing commuters and motorists before traffic police reached the spot to clear the road and restore order.
Striking drivers voiced strong opposition to the sudden enforcement of language proficiency standards. Drivers highlighted that many operators are aged between 50 and 60 years old and never received formal schooling or learned Marathi. Protesters questioned how older operators could be expected to suddenly acquire fluency, stating that even efforts to speak broken Marathi were not being accommodated, resulting in penalties instead.
Drivers also raised concerns over the severe financial impact of enforcement actions, questioning how transport operators could pay fines ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000. Protesting drivers maintained that their three-day strike would continue until their concerns are addressed.
The protest follows a statewide drive initiated by the Maharashtra government to assess the practical Marathi knowledge of autorickshaw and taxi drivers. According to official data dated August 21, Regional Transport Office (RTO) teams evaluated 9,233 drivers across Maharashtra on the second day of the campaign. Of those assessed, 1,499 drivers were found to lack practical Marathi skills and were subsequently served notices.
In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), authorities tested 3,942 vehicle owners and drivers on the second day of the assessment drive, issuing notices to 722 individuals who failed to meet the required practical Marathi standard. Across regions outside the MMR, RTO teams tested 5,291 drivers, issuing notices to 777 drivers who did not pass the practical language evaluation.
