Mumbai drivers learn Marathi before Maharashtra’s August 15 test deadline

The Story in Brief

Hundreds of Mumbai auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers gathered in Saki Naka on Wednesday for Marathi language tests, racing to meet the Maharashtra government’s August 15 deadline for certification. The policy requires commercial and public-service vehicle drivers, including app-based cab operators, to understand and speak basic Marathi.

Transport unions, regional transport offices and political parties have arranged free coaching and testing since the policy was announced in April. Drivers practise about 15 passenger phrases, while volunteers assess everyday communication rather than grammar. Tests take two to four minutes, with batches of 60 drivers examined from morning to evening. Some older migrants struggled, but others said learning Marathi was part of adapting to Mumbai.

The Indian Opinion

The loudest claims will cast the policy either as an attack on migrants or as a simple cure for every passenger complaint. Neither fits the Saki Naka experience. Many drivers already understand Marathi, while some elderly workers now face a new hurdle after decades on Mumbai’s roads. A short spoken test may help basic communication, but fairness depends on consistent assessment and accessible training. The real test is whether complaints about language fall without drivers losing their livelihoods after August 15.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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