Mumbai Auto Drivers March To RTO On April 8: Will Your Commute Be Hit? Here's How To Stay Prepared

Last Updated:April 02, 2026, 07:22 IST

Mumbai News: Union leaders have warned the agitation could disrupt autorickshaw services across the suburbs through the day.

If you take an auto to work, school, or the hospital, mark April 8 on your calendar — and start thinking of a backup plan.

Will Your Autorickshaw Show Up On April 8?

It might not — at least not in the suburbs. Auto unions across Maharashtra are planning a ‘morcha’ to Regional Transport Office premises on April 8, and Mumbai’s main protest is set outside the Andheri RTO.

Union leaders have warned the agitation could disrupt autorickshaw services across the suburbs through the day, so if you depend on autos for your morning commute, school runs, or hospital visits, it’s worth making a backup plan now.

What Are The Drivers Actually Angry About?

According to The Times of India, the flashpoint is a fee structure that drivers say is anything but welfare. To enrol in the state’s driver welfare scheme — set up roughly a year ago — each driver must pay Rs 500 as a joining fee and Rs 300 annually, totalling Rs 800 upfront.

Union leader Shashank Rao was quoted by TOI as saying that the amount is unreasonable, especially when other welfare boards in the state charge as little as Re 1 for registration.

“Is this for our welfare or for the transport department’s welfare?" he asked. Drivers, he pointed out, already carry heavy costs — permits, annual compliance, vehicle upkeep — and a welfare board piling on more fees defeats the purpose of its own existence.

Is There Something More Troubling Going On Behind The Scenes?

Yes, and this is where it gets serious for drivers. The Times of India reports that union leaders are alleging that drivers are being unofficially told to pay the Rs 800 before their fitness certificates are cleared or transport documents are processed.

In plain terms: pay up, or your paperwork stalls. Unions have called this coercive and extortionary, stressing that no driver can legally be forced to pay a welfare fee to access routine approvals.

How Much Money Is Really At Stake Here?

With an estimated 15 lakh auto drivers in Maharashtra, unions calculate the government stands to collect around Rs 120 crore from the fee — a number that has only deepened suspicion about the scheme’s true intent.

What Should Mumbai Commuters Do On April 8?

• Avoid depending solely on autos, especially in the western suburbs

• Book cabs or use BEST buses or metro as alternatives

• If you have early appointments — medical, school, office — leave extra time or arrange a ride in advance

• Watch for updates from auto unions closer to the date, as the scale of disruption may become clearer by April 7

News cities mumbai-news Mumbai Auto Drivers March To RTO On April 8: Will Your Commute Be Hit? Here's How To Stay Prepared

Read More