"Injustice": Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Protest In Mumbai Over Marathi Mandate Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai launched a three-day strike in the Kandivali region, parking their vehicles and staging a protest against a state mandate requiring them to demonstrate working knowledge of Marathi. The protest, which briefly disrupted traffic on the Kandivali Link Road, centered on claims that the rule is unfair and disproportionately affects older drivers who lack formal education. The Maharashtra Transport Department has enforced the policy, which mandates that drivers must prove proficiency in the state’s primary language, Marathi, to operate their vehicles. The directive, part of broader efforts to improve communication between drivers and passengers, has sparked widespread backlash. Maharashtra, home to approximately 9.65 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, has seen 1.65 lakh drivers complete Marathi training and receive certificates, according to State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state have been conducting checks, issuing notices to drivers who fail to meet the language requirement, and granting a one-month window to learn Marathi. Failure to comply could result in the suspension of driver badges for three months, with permanent cancellation of licenses and permits for continued non-compliance. Drivers have expressed frustration over the policy, arguing that it penalizes those who have spent decades operating in the city without formal education. One protester stated, “We are trying to learn the language; I can reply in broken Marathi.#mumbai #rto #pratap_sarnaik #maharashtra_transport_department #kandivali_link_road
Nagpur RTO Launches HSRP Enforcement Drive Starting July 1, Fines Imposed Vehicle owners in Nagpur and across Maharashtra are being urged to comply with the mandatory installation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) as Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and traffic police prepare to enforce the requirement starting July 1. The initiative, part of a state-wide crackdown, will target drivers who have not installed HSRP or booked an appointment for installation. Officials clarified that those who booked an HSRP appointment by June 30 will be exempt from penalties until their scheduled installation is completed. Under the enforcement drive, violators operating vehicles without HSRP will face a fine of Rs 1,000 under the Motor Vehicles Act. The operation in Nagpur will be conducted jointly by RTO (City) and RTO (East), led by regional transport officer Kiran Bidkar, and RTO (rural), headed by Vijay Chavhan, alongside traffic police. Fourteen flying squads have been deployed across the three RTOs to conduct inspections and take action from July 1. The enforcement comes amid low compliance rates. Data from the Maharashtra transport department reveals that out of 14.35 lakh eligible vehicles in Nagpur’s three RTOs, only 7.77 lakh owners have booked HSRP installation appointments, while 7.02 lakh vehicles already have the tamper-proof plates. This means just 48.9% of eligible vehicles have completed the formalities, with appointment bookings at 54.1%. Officials noted that half of the vehicle owners remain non-compliant. The crackdown also expands restrictions on services for vehicles without HSRP.#nagpur_rto #maharashtra_transport_department #kiran_bidkar #vijay_chavhan #hsrp_enforcement
