Relief for Mumbai's Kaali-Peeli Taxis: RTOs Begin Issuing 16-Digit UINs for Speed Governors

MUMBAI: In a major relief for thousands of Mumbai's kaali-peeli taxi operators, the Maharashtra state transport department has started issuing 16-digit Unique Identity Numbers (UINs) for speed governors. This initiative is expected to help hundreds of taxis that were stranded due to pending fitness certifications.

For over a month, nearly half of the city’s traditional black-and-yellow taxis have been off the roads or stuck at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), unable to secure the mandatory fitness certificate—a requirement for continued operation. The cause: non-compliance with a new central government regulation mandating all speed governors to have a standardized 16-digit UIN.

Why the UIN Is Important
 

In June 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced a rule requiring speed governors—devices that cap vehicle speed—to possess a 16-digit UIN for official record-keeping and safety regulation.

Without this new number, vehicles could not pass their fitness tests—essential for renewing licenses to ply commercially.
 

Immediate Impact on Taxi Operations
 

Since most kaali-peeli taxis in Mumbai had speed governors installed between 2017 and 2018, they were operating with 8 to 12-digit UINs, which are now obsolete under the new rule.

This led to widespread issues:

• RTOs rejected old UINs when cabbies arrived for vehicle "passing" and certificate renewal.
• Taxis under 8 years of age must undergo a fitness test every two years.
• Those above 8 years must appear annually for the test, costing ₹600 each time.
• Taxis older than 15 years face a fine of ₹50 per day for any delay in certification.

Fearing penalties and fines from the traffic police, many drivers chose to park their taxis rather than risk operating without valid fitness papers.

State Transport Department Steps In

To address the issue, Additional Transport Commissioner Bharat Kalaskar, who also heads the Tardeo RTO, confirmed that the department has taken up the responsibility of gathering details from taxi owners and drivers to issue the updated 16-digit UINs.

“Drivers must submit relevant documents to us. We will verify and issue the 16-digit UIN,” Kalaskar said.

The required documents include:

• Driver or permit holder’s name
• Vehicle registration number
• Previous UIN of the speed governor
• Date of installation of the speed governor

Once verified, the new UIN will be recorded on official letterheads and shared with the RTOs to enable fitness testing.

 

Union Response and Support

 

Mumbai Taxi Association member Iqbal Singh stated that they are actively helping drivers compile and submit the necessary documentation.

“We’re trying to reach as many drivers as possible. Many have already submitted details and received assistance,” Singh said.

Earlier, many RTO officials had advised taxi drivers to replace their speed governors entirely, which would have cost over ₹9,000—nearly double the original installation cost. This sparked resentment among drivers, many of whom could not afford the new expense, especially after COVID-19 severely impacted their income.

Thanks to the latest move by the state, such costly replacements can now be avoided.

RTOs Involved in the Process

Currently, the following RTOs are actively involved in registering kaali-peeli taxis for the 16-digit UIN issuance:

• Tardeo
• Wadala
• Andheri
• Borivali

The initiative is expected to clear the backlog of stranded taxis and bring them back into service, providing much-needed transportation support to daily commuters.

A Win-Win for Drivers and Passengers

This development not only benefits the taxi operators but also comes as a welcome relief for Mumbaikars, who rely heavily on kaali-peeli taxis for affordable, last-mile connectivity.

With thousands of taxis set to return to the roads in the coming weeks, passenger wait times and dependence on app-based aggregators could decrease significantly.

Conclusion


The proactive step by the Maharashtra transport department to take over the process of issuing updated 16-digit UINs for speed governors is a shining example of governance that listens and responds. It offers a timely solution to a regulatory challenge, ensuring that drivers aren’t unfairly penalized for legacy systems and that Mumbai’s iconic taxis continue to serve the city.

As the system rolls out across more RTOs and unions assist drivers, the black-and-yellow taxis will once again be back where they belong—on the roads of Mumbai, driving the city forward.