Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Maharashtra have begun enforcing the state’s mandatory working-Marathi requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers. On August 20, the first day of the statewide checking drive, officials assessed 8,217 commercial passenger vehicle drivers and issued show-cause notices to 1,268 who could not demonstrate adequate practical knowledge of Marathi.
The checks are based on everyday conversations between drivers and passengers rather than advanced language skills, and the process is being conducted through direct interaction and video recording. Drivers who fall short have been given one month to improve, after which their badges can be suspended for three months and continued non-compliance may invite further action.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the requirement is intended to improve passenger communication and safety, while some drivers and unions have questioned the need for the exercise and sought continued access to training. The inspection drive will continue across Maharashtra until September 30.
8,217 Drivers Assessed
The enforcement began on August 20, with RTO teams checking drivers at multiple locations across Maharashtra. Of the 8,217 drivers assessed on the first day, 3,995 were checked in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while another 4,222 were assessed elsewhere in the state.
In both regions, around 85% of drivers tested were found to have satisfactory working knowledge of Marathi. However, 604 drivers in the MMR and 664 elsewhere were issued notices after failing to demonstrate the required level of practical communication.
The assessment focuses on simple, real-world exchanges that occur during a journey such as asking a passenger for their destination, understanding directions, discussing fares, explaining routes or journey time and communicating about the meter.
Officials have stressed that the exercise is not designed to test literary or advanced Marathi. At locations including Dadar railway station, RTO personnel reportedly asked drivers their names, places of residence, their native villages, how long they had been driving in Mumbai and whether they had attended the Marathi lessons offered earlier.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, “Being able to communicate in Marathi is essential for ensuring smooth service and effective communication,” adding that functional Marathi is closely connected with passenger convenience and safety. RTO Inspector S. Sutrave said the assessment is being conducted through direct interaction and video-recorded, adding an element of documentation to the verification process.
One Month To Improve
The immediate consequence for drivers who do not meet the requirement is not cancellation of their livelihood. Instead, they are being served show-cause notices and given one month to acquire the required working knowledge of Marathi.
The government has maintained that drivers will get an opportunity to improve before stronger action is taken. Sarnaik had earlier said the objective was not to immediately cancel licences or permits, but to ensure that people providing passenger transport services in Maharashtra can communicate in the local language.
Under the enforcement framework, drivers who remain non-compliant after the one-month period can face suspension of their badges for three months, with continued violations potentially leading to cancellation or further regulatory action.
The latest checks follow a Marathi training programme launched for drivers earlier this year. The programme received 1,65,600 applications, with 1,40,423 drivers having completed the course and passed the proficiency test by mid-August.
However, 7,750 drivers had failed the test and needed to reappear, while another 17,427 had yet to complete the training. The deadline for completing the programme was August 15. The enforcement has also generated mixed reactions. Some drivers have questioned why another verification was necessary after completing earlier licensing and badge procedures.
One taxi driver told The Times of India that he could understand Marathi better than he could speak it. Union leader Thampy Kurien said he would help drivers access Marathi training and urged authorities to continue online classes and recognise certificates.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The ability to communicate with passengers is an important part of providing a safe and respectful public transport service, and learning the local language can certainly help bridge everyday communication gaps. At the same time, language policy should not become a source of fear, humiliation or exclusion for workers who depend on driving for their livelihoods, particularly when many have migrated to Maharashtra for employment.
The government’s decision to provide a month-long opportunity to improve is therefore more constructive than immediate punitive action, but that approach will matter only if training remains genuinely accessible, affordable and practical.
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