Lucky winners of auto rickshaw permits will get them from Saturday, but they will have to undergo an oral test for knowledge of the Marathi language. Minister for public transport Diwakar Raote last year announced that permits would be given only to those who can read and speak the Marathi language, which he said was mentioned in transport law.
Officials from state transport said that the lottery for permits was drawn on January 14 this year and permits would now be distributed to the lucky winners. “All the winners who have won auto permits have been asked to come prepared with all documents for an oral test of Marathi at the Mumbai East office of the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) at Wadala on February 27. The permits will be issued in batches between February 27 and March 3,” said anofficial.
Those who have secured auto permits will have to appear for an interview along with a demand draft (DD) of Rs 16,000 drawn in favour of the RTO, Mumbai East. The winners will have to produce originals and copies of computerised print-out of the winners’ list, ration card, proof of residence, election voter identity card, aadhar card, passport, electricity bill and property tax receipt at the time of the interview.
Last month, while announcing the auction of 5,242 auto permits, Mr Raote, on September 15, 2015, had made it clear that those applying for them should have basic knowledge of Marathi. The other criteria included being a permanent resident of Mumbai for at least 15 years. At that time, former transport minister and Mumbai unit President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sachin Ahir, slammed the decision arguing that there was nothing wrong in expecting auto rickshaw drivers to speak in Marathi but it was wrong to enforce Marathi.
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president Sanjay Nirupam also criticised the decision, stating that what the government could ensure is that applicants are well versed with the local demography. However, Mr Raote on Friday reiterated that those applicants who do not fulfil the two conditions would not be issued new auto permits.
