Minister of Transport Pratap Sarnaik declared that starting May 1, Maharashtra Day, licensed rickshaw and taxi drivers must be proficient in Marathi. A thorough license inspection initiative will be carried out across 59 regional and sub-regional Motor Transport Department offices to assess the drivers’ Marathi skills. Those unable to read and write Marathi will face license cancellation.
Minister Sarnaik emphasized the existing requirement for local language knowledge, particularly Marathi, for rickshaw and taxi drivers during license issuance. Despite this, numerous drivers in areas like Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Nagpur struggle to communicate in Marathi, leading to a surge in complaints. The Minister stressed the importance of adapting to the local language for business purposes.
Effective May 1, all licensed rickshaw and taxi drivers must possess Marathi literacy, with non-compliance resulting in license termination. Minister Sarnaik warned of stringent actions against transport officials disregarding the regulations or issuing licenses improperly. The upcoming enforcement drive aims to ensure strict adherence, with immediate license revocation for drivers lacking Marathi skills and disciplinary measures for negligent officials.
