Mumbai RTO Issues Notices to 422 Auto, Taxi Drivers Over Marathi Language Norms
Regional Transport Office (RTO) flying squads issued show-cause notices to 422 autorickshaw and taxi drivers across Mumbai on Thursday after they failed to demonstrate practical knowledge of Marathi during an enforcement drive conducted across transport hubs in Bandra, Goregaon, Kurla, Dadar, Borivali, and Wadala.
Officials inspected a total of 1,430 drivers during the first major enforcement exercise of the state government's language rule. The checks revealed that nearly one in three drivers failed the practical language assessment.
Across individual RTO jurisdictions, Andheri teams checked 403 drivers and issued 140 notices. Borivali officials inspected 450 vehicles and served 113 notices to drivers lacking adequate Marathi skills. Tardeo RTO officials inspected 385 vehicles and issued 94 notices, while Wadala teams checked 192 vehicles and issued 75 notices.
The notices do not trigger immediate badge suspensions or cancellations. The transport department has provided drivers with a one-month window to acquire practical Marathi skills and explain why further action should not be taken against them. Continued non-compliance after the period could lead to badge suspensions of up to three months, and eventual cancellation of badges and permits.
However, drivers who have completed government-backed Marathi training programmes reported difficulties in securing compliance certificates from RTO offices due to limited counters, long queues, and administrative delays.
A taxi driver waiting at the Tardeo RTO noted that spending entire days at the office resulted in a loss of daily earnings, while another driver who completed the training in August expressed concern over how drivers could prove compliance during field checks if certificates were delayed.
According to the transport department, approximately 1.65 lakh non-Marathi-speaking auto and taxi drivers previously attended Marathi language training campaigns organised by Marathi literary organisations. The mandate was incorporated through amendments to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules to ensure drivers can communicate with passengers in Marathi. The department also stated that new applicants for badges will have their Marathi communication skills assessed and video-recorded during direct interactions with RTO officials.
