Coimbatore Taxi News

MUMBAI: The Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra has decided to give new taxi licences to only those who are well versed in Marathi and have resided in the state for at least 15 years. 

The new taxi rules have given a new dimension to migrant politics in the state since new migrants can not get taxi permits now. The government, however, clarified that taxi drivers who already have permits and who hold a valid licence, will not be affected by the decision. 

A decision to frame the new rules was taken a meeting of the state cabinet presided by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. 

"It has been decided that henceforth licences will be issued to only those taxi drivers who have been a resident of the state for at least 15 years and can read and write Marathi," an official from the Chief Minister's office said. 

The Bombay Taximen's association, the oldest in the city, quickly condemned the decision with its secretary A L Quadros saying it was unacceptable and politically motivated. 

A sizeable section of over 2 lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai consists of migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. About 4,000 new taxi permits are given each year. 

"There is an attempt to make it (taxi services) an organised sector. The drivers should know Marathi, read Marathi and write Marathi. Such is the proposal of the government," Chavan told reporters. 

MNS chief Raj Thackeray had been in the forefront of an anti-migrant campaign in the state last year and had come in for severe criticism from several political parties.