MUMBAI — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to clarify state policy and calm widespread panic among commercial transport operators following street protests across Mumbai over a government drive requiring public transport drivers to possess a working knowledge of the Marathi language.
The demonstrations, which briefly disrupted commuter traffic across several western suburbs, were triggered by viral rumors suggesting that transport authorities were imposing steep fines ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000 on non-proficient drivers.
Government Clarification and Timelines
In a direct address aimed at resolving confusion, Chief Minister Fadnavis clarified that the administrative initiative is designed strictly to facilitate day-to-day communication between drivers and passengers rather than enforcing formal linguistic fluency.
“There is no reason to make them experts in Marathi. They should know work-related, basic Marathi,” Fadnavis emphasized, confirming that no driver’s permit or commercial badge has been canceled.
State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik outlined the phased enforcement protocol established under the August 12 Government Resolution (GR):
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Initial Notice Period: Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials must issue a formal 30-day notice to drivers lacking functional Marathi skills, granting them time to attend basic language orientation sessions.
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Suspension Phase: Drivers who fail to meet basic requirements after the initial month face a temporary suspension of their badge and license, accompanied by a three-month grace period to complete language learning.
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Strict Penalty Constraints: The state has warned that any RTO officer found issuing unauthorized fines before the expiration of the 30-day notice period will face disciplinary action.
Protests and Enforcement Statistics
Unrest was reported during morning peak hours in areas including Kandivali, Malad (West), Santacruz, Dahisar, and Andheri, where groups of drivers attempted to halt commercial traffic and force passengers to deboard operating autorickshaws and app-based cabs. Local police intervened to clear road blockades and restore normal traffic flow by the afternoon.
Union representatives confirmed that no major transport union had called for a formal strike, attributing the localized demonstrations to widespread anxiety over potential loss of livelihood fueled by misinformation.
According to figures released by the State Transport Department:
| Metric | Official Count |
| Drivers Attended Language Classes | 1,65,600 |
| Notices Issued to Non-Marathi Drivers (Aug 20) | 1,268 |
| State-Wide Notices Issued (Aug 21) | 1,499 |
Following representations from political leaders—including Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam—the administration reiterated that learning facilities remain open to assist non-native drivers in meeting operational communication standards without disrupting their daily earnings.
