Mumbai auto drivers use new Marathi skills to refuse rides

Mumbai auto rickshaw drivers who recently completed RTO-run Marathi language classes are using their new vocabulary primarily to refuse rides, The Times of India reports. One driver in Kurla has compiled a list of Marathi excuses that include “mala jevayla jayche aahe” (I need to eat), “mala ghari jaychay” (I need to go home), and “mala gas bharaychay” (I need to refill CNG). Ride refusals account for over 60% of passenger complaints in the suburbs, affecting students, senior citizens, women, and office-goers especially during peak hours.

Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien said many drivers now have a basic working knowledge of Marathi and are likely to use their own sentences to sound natural. He raised concerns about unauthorised coaching classes charging drivers at least Rs 500 and demanded a crackdown. He urged the state government to continue its online Marathi learning platform. The language drive precedes enforcement of the amended Motor Vehicles Rules, which require drivers of commercial passenger vehicles to know Marathi. The deadline for training ended on August 15, and enforcement begins on August 18 with show-cause notices, giving violators a month to improve their skills.

Over 1 lakh certificates have been prepared and will be distributed across Maharashtra’s 58 RTOs on Monday. Drivers will attend a live-streamed felicitation ceremony at Thane’s Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan, with CM Devendra Fadnavis, and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. RTO sources said drivers may have to demonstrate functional Marathi during inspections and produce certificates when asked.