Mumbai auto drivers block road and launch three-day strike over Marathi language rule
Auto-rickshaw operators in Mumbai halted traffic on Kandivli Link Road and began a three-day walkout, protesting a new mandate that drivers must know Marathi.
On Monday, a faction of autorickshaw, taxi and cab drivers in Mumbai staged a roadblock on Kandivli Link Road and declared a three-day strike to contest a new Marathi language requirement. The drivers contend that the rule forces them, many of whom are 55-60 years old and have never attended school, to acquire a skill they lack, creating a financial strain. One participant highlighted that the penalty for non-compliance could reach Rs 15,000-20,000, which they deem excessive.
Protesters are attempting to learn basic Marathi but say they are being penalised rather than given a reasonable adjustment period. The demonstration is part of a broader push by transport workers for authorities to reconsider both the language mandate and associated fines. The strike is set to continue until the drivers feel their concerns have been addressed.
Why it matters
The protest shows how language policy can affect livelihoods and spark labor unrest in India's transport sector.
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