Overview
- Transport officials launched a verification drive in Mira Road–Bhayandar that tests drivers on reading, writing, and speaking Marathi while rechecking licences, permits, and 15‑year domicile proofs.
- More than 12,000 auto and taxi permit holders are being screened in batches, and those who fail the language test or have invalid papers risk suspension or cancellation of licences and permits.
- RTO staff are giving on‑the‑spot written passages in Marathi under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules amended in 2019, which officials say allows immediate action without lengthy cross‑department checks.
- The push follows a complaint by BJP MLA Narendra Mehta about irregular permits, with officials citing red flags such as dozens of permits linked to a single address and some licence holders too young to meet domicile criteria.
- Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik says the rule already exists and will be enforced statewide after the pilot, while driver unions and opposition leaders call for training and safeguards as Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC backs making Marathi compulsory; a report is due May 1 and checks are slated to expand after that, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of permits across the Mumbai region.