Marathi deadline for Ola, Uber cab, auto drivers nears: What happens next?

The Maharashtra government has implemented a deadline for non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn basic Marathi, with the deadline approaching on August 15. Ola, Uber, Rapido, and other cab and auto drivers are now lining up outside Marathi-learning centers in anticipation of inspection and potential action.

The 'Hindu Hrudayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Shikvani Abhiyan' was launched after State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi, and app-based cab drivers to possess a working knowledge of Marathi by August 15. Failure to meet the language requirement could result in the suspension of drivers' licences and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badges for up to three months, with repeated violations leading to permanent cancellation of licences.

The enforcement of the language rule will be carried out through multiple channels, including flying squads and enforcement teams attached to different Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) who will conduct on-ground verification during routine checks. Around 1.25 lakh commercial passenger vehicle drivers have completed the mandatory Marathi training, but nearly one lakh permit holders across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are still without the required certification.

Union leaders have renewed their demand for an extension of the deadline, citing the unavailability of enough training centers for the non-Marathi-speaking drivers, who comprise nearly 70% of the auto-rickshaw drivers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).