Mumbai: The Maharashtra govt’s decision to make a domicile certificate and knowledge of Marathi mandatory for obtaining badges for aggregator cab and bike-taxi drivers from Aug has sparked concern among a section of drivers, especially migrants who form a significant part of the app-based taxi workforce in Mumbai and other cities.Drivers say they fear the new norm may have unintended consequences. A large number of app-based cab drivers in Maharashtra are migrants from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Aggregator companies rely heavily on this workforce to meet the demand in metropolitan regions. Drivers argue it is difficult to attract enough local residents to drive long hours in the sector, making migrant workers indispensable to maintaining fleet strength.“Who will benefit from this?” asked Ola driver Akhilesh Mishra, adding he believes the market could shrink if many drivers fail to obtain the required documents. A reduction in the number of drivers, he said, would lead to longer waiting times for passengers and higher fares due to supply crunch.The govt’s stated objective is regulatory uniformity. Transport department officials said drivers of kaali-peeli taxis and autorickshaws have long been required to possess a public service vehicle authorisation (PVSA) badge, which involves domicile verification, police checks and basic knowledge of Marathi. By bringing aggregator cab and bike-taxi drivers under the same framework, the state aims to create a common set of rules for all passenger transport operators.Former aggregator cab driver Shahnawaz Hussain questioned the rationale behind linking domicile to professional eligibility. “If the govt introduces a policy, there should be a genuine reason and some benefit attached to it,” he said. He warned that thousands of drivers who already provide reliable service and maintain strong customer ratings may be forced out of the system despite years of experience.Drivers also point to practical difficulties in obtaining domicile certificates, describing it as a time-consuming process that often involves significant costs. While the govt sees the rule as a tool for regulation and verification, many in the industry fear it could disrupt livelihoods and reduce transport options for commuters. Ultimately, the success of the policy will depend on whether it balances regulatory oversight with the realities of Mumbai’s migrant-driven transport economy, said a transport analyst.Keshav Kshirsagar, Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, a union of aggregator cab drivers, said: “Making domicile certificates mandatory for drivers may appear to favour locals, but in practice it is unlikely to achieve its objective. The reality is that obtaining a domicile certificate is often easy, with unscrupulous agents helping applicants secure documents through fake rent agreements and other forged records, sometimes charging hefty amounts. We have already seen this happen in the autorickshaw and kaali-peeli taxi sectors. As a result, no driver is likely to be pushed out of the system.”The move also comes amid the rapid growth of unauthorised bike-taxi services. The govt believes a badge system will help identify drivers, improve accountability and ensure that only verified individuals are engaged in public transport services. Officials argue that the domicile requirement is not a new policy but an extension of an existing rule applicable to other categories of commercial passenger vehicles.
