After HC order, RTOS set to issue 5K auto licences

Acting on high court directives, regional transport offices (RTOS) have finally begun the process of issuing autorickshaw permits to drivers who had failed the Marathi language test last year. In Mumbai, more than 5,000 autorickshaw drivers are expected to get permits.

The transport department conducted an online lottery for 35,628 autorickshaw permits in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on January 12, 2016.

Transport minister Diwakar Raote had insisted that drivers have a working knowledge of Marathi to be eligible for permits. The department conducted a Marathi language test to check drivers’ command over the language.

The test was conducted by a panel comprising journalists, RTO officials and union representatives between February 27 to March 7, 2016. According to sources, of the 18418 auto drivers who appeared for the test, 13,321 were successful.

While hearing a petition filed by a few autorickshaw unions from Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi and Mira-bhayander, the Bombay high court had revoked the language rule stipulated by the state government. Now, the transport department has asked all RTOS to issue auto licenses to drivers who had won the lottery but failed the language test. Wadala, Andheri and Borivli RTOS will issue 387, 2,550 and 2,867 auto permits.

An official from Wadala RTO said they had told the lottery winners to submit their documents. “We will issue permits after reviewing their documents,” said the official.

Auto drivers are required to submit photocopies of their driv ing licence, domicile certificate police verification report, resi dence proof and an affidavit.

Mumbai’s suburbs have more than 1.25 lakh autorickshaws The number has gone up since the government issued thou sands of new permits in the past three years through online lot teries.