Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, August 24, sought to defuse protests by sections of Mumbai’s autorickshaw and taxi drivers over the state’s Marathi proficiency drive, saying Hindi-speaking drivers need only enough Marathi to communicate for work and do not have to become fluent.
The protests erupted amid fears of hefty fines and possible loss of livelihoods, with demonstrations reported in Kandivali, Malad West, Santacruz, Dahisar and Andheri, while commuters faced disruption and some passengers were allegedly forced to deboard vehicles.
The Maharashtra Transport Department began statewide checks on August 20, and by August 24 had checked 35,190 vehicles, including 14,399 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), issuing 4,729 notices, of which 2,239 were in the MMR.
Fadnavis said there was no intention to discriminate against people on the basis of language and that deadlines could be extended for those needing more time.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik also clarified that drivers must first be given a one-month notice to learn Marathi and warned that RTO officials could face action if they imposed penalties before that period ended.
Protests Fueled By Fear
The immediate unrest was driven largely by confusion over what the Marathi requirement means and what consequences drivers could face for failing to meet it.
The government has made a “working knowledge” of Marathi mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers under amended Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules, with RTO teams assessing drivers through practical questions involving destinations, directions, fares, meters, routes and stands.
Drivers who do not demonstrate adequate knowledge are issued a notice and given time to learn the language. However, rumours that drivers would immediately be fined between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000 spread among sections of the transport community, according to a senior official from the Borivali RTO.
The misinformation added to fears among drivers who depend on daily earnings. On Monday, some drivers began a three-day strike, while others blocked roads, including at Laljipada in Kandivali West, during the morning rush hour. Some protesters allegedly stopped autorickshaws, taxis and app-based cabs from carrying passengers, with commuters reportedly asked to get out of vehicles.
A union leader, however, said no major union had officially called for the agitation and attributed the protests to panic among drivers who were unable to speak Marathi.
What The Rules Actually Say
The government’s enforcement drive followed months of efforts to introduce Marathi-language training for non-Marathi-speaking drivers. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said around 1.65 lakh non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi drivers had already attended Marathi classes.
The current process does not immediately remove a driver’s licence for failing the language assessment. Sarnaik said drivers who lack working knowledge of Marathi must first receive a one-month notice to learn the language. If they still fail to comply, their licence and badge can be suspended for three months, with continued non-compliance potentially leading to cancellation.
He specifically warned that RTO officials who wrongly fined drivers before the one-month notice period ended would face action. The enforcement has nevertheless generated tension on the ground. An autorickshaw driver was allegedly assaulted in Kandivali West after refusing to join protesters, with police later arresting four people in connection with the incident.
The latest figures show the checks continuing: on August 24 alone, 4,807 drivers were assessed across Maharashtra and 331 notices were issued, including 139 in the MMR. Against this backdrop, Fadnavis said the government’s aim was not to make Hindi-speaking drivers “experts” in Marathi, but to ensure they can manage basic, work-related communication.
He added that the compliance deadline had already been extended three times and could be extended again for those genuinely seeking more time.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Marathi language deserves respect, and so do the people who earn their livelihoods serving Mumbai every day. Encouraging public-facing workers to learn the local language can improve communication and strengthen social integration, but such a process must be built around clarity, fairness and opportunity rather than fear.
The government’s clarification that drivers need functional Marathi rather than fluency is an important distinction, particularly when misinformation can quickly turn a regulatory exercise into a source of anxiety for workers already living on tight margins. At the same time, protests cannot justify blocking roads, intimidating fellow drivers, forcing passengers out of vehicles or resorting to violence.
