Maharashtra Grants Auto and Taxi Drivers Time to Learn Marathi Before Action

The Maharashtra government will grant autorickshaw and taxi drivers time to learn Marathi before taking punitive action under amended motor vehicle rules, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced in Mumbai.

Sarnaik clarified that the state will not immediately cancel permits or driving licences for non-compliance. The administration aims to safeguard the livelihoods of commercial drivers while ensuring that public passenger transport operators develop functional Marathi language skills.

According to official figures released by the minister, there are approximately 9.16 lakh autorickshaws and 61,657 taxis registered across Maharashtra. A significant proportion of these commercial vehicles operate within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Drivers have previously queued at transport offices, including the Mumbai Central Regional Transport Office (RTO), to undergo mandatory Marathi language training and assessment tests.

Sarnaik confirmed that the state government will sustain this educational drive and focus on teaching the language to drivers who are not yet conversant in Marathi before enforcing regulatory penalties under the amended rules.