Mumbai Auto, Taxi Drivers Given One Month to Learn Marathi or Face Licence Suspension

MUMBAI — Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai who fail basic Marathi proficiency checks will be granted a one-month grace period to learn the language before facing punitive action, transport authorities announced.

With a working knowledge of Marathi becoming mandatory for auto and taxi drivers from August 18 under the amended Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules, Regional Transport Office (RTO) flying squads will conduct random inspections across the city. Drivers found lacking adequate functional skills will be served a show-cause notice requiring them to learn the language within a month and explain why enforcement action should not proceed.

An RTO official stated on Saturday that the government-run training sessions previously organised at transport offices are not being extended at present, meaning drivers issued notices will need to acquire the language through private courses.

Authorities have outlined a three-stage enforcement procedure for non-compliant drivers. If a driver fails to acquire the necessary language skills within the one-month notice window, the transport department will suspend their driving licence for three months. A repeated violation will result in a second notice, followed by the potential revocation of the licence under the amended regulations.

Alongside the enforcement measures, the state transport department prepared more than one lakh certificates on Friday and Saturday. These certificates will be distributed to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who successfully completed the basic Marathi language training conducted across Maharashtra's 58 RTOs over the past three months.