Mumbai, January 20: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday decided to grant taxi permits to only those people who have been residing in the state for 15 years.
The new rules also state that who applying for taxi permits must speak, read and write Marathi.
The decision will affect migrants from North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as most taxis in Mumbai are being driven by people from these two states.
However, the decision is only for new permits and old ones won’t be affected.
Migrant taxi drivers have been targeted by the Maharashtra Navniramna Sena for allegedly taking up the jobs of locals.
Reacting to the new rules, Mumbai taxi union general secretary Al Quadros said that that the decision was completely undemocratic.
“The political decision is unacceptable. There should be no discrimination. It is a cosmopolitan city. People have been working as drivers for many years. Why should they be denied a permit when they can become taxi drivers themselves? Denying them their rights is undemocratic. The government has kept a condition that they should know how to read and write Marathi. How do they expect the drivers to go to school in order to drive the taxis?” asked Quadros.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that the drivers for the new taxis must be well versed in Marathi.
“Drivers who will be employed in the new taxis should be fluent in spoken and written Marathi. That’s what the government wants,” said Chavan.
On the other hand Congress claimed that the party was not toeing the MNS stand of targeting migrants.
“Party’s principle is to give preference to locals. MNS supports only Marathis. There is difference between our stand and that of MNS. Local people are not getting opportunities and the government will decide whether to talk with the taxi association or not,” said party spokesperson Anant Gadgil.
—Agencies