Auto-Taxi Union Seeks Three-Month Extension For Marathi Training Deadline In Maharashtra

Mumbai: As the August 15 deadline for completing Marathi language training for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers looms, the Mumbai Auto Rickshaw-Taximens Union has requested a three-month extension from the Maharashtra government. In a letter to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, the union contends that the current deadline is too stringent for the large number of drivers requiring training.

With around 5.5 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, a significant portion being non-Marathi speakers, training support is deemed crucial. Union president Shashank Rao highlights that completing the practical Marathi course typically takes three to four weeks, yet the available training centers prove inadequate to accommodate all drivers before the deadline.

The union warns that failing to meet the deadline could result in mass action against drivers, potentially jeopardizing their livelihoods. The union is demanding a three-month extension during which no actions should be taken against drivers who haven't completed the training. Additionally, the union seeks an increase in Marathi training centers, aiming for their permanent operation across Maharashtra after the extension, to facilitate future training at the drivers' convenience.