Maharashtra has begun a statewide enforcement drive to check whether taxi and autorickshaw drivers have sufficient working knowledge of Marathi, with 1,268 drivers receiving notices on the first day of the exercise.
The checking campaign was launched by Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state on Thursday, August 20, and will continue until September 30. Officials assessed 8,217 commercial passenger vehicle drivers on the first day, including 3,995 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Of these, Regional Transport Office (RTO) flying squads checked 1,430 vehicles across Mumbai and issued notices to 422 drivers who were unable to demonstrate practical knowledge of Marathi.
RTO teams carried out inspections at major transport hubs, including Bandra, Goregaon, Kurla, Dadar, Borivali and Wadala. The Tardeo RTO officials checked 385 vehicles and found 94 drivers who did not have adequate practical knowledge of Marathi. All were served show-cause notices.
At Borivali, the RTO checked 450 vehicles and issued 113 notices, while at Wadala, 192 vehicles were inspected and 75 drivers were served notices. At the Andheri RTO, officials checked 403 drivers and issued notices to 140 of them.
According to Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, 604 drivers in the MMR were found unable to demonstrate the required level of Marathi. In other parts of the state, 4,222 drivers were assessed and 664 received notices.
Drivers who fail the assessment have been given one month to develop the required working knowledge of Marathi. Those who continue to fall short after the given period could face suspension of their driver badges for three months.
The enforcement action is part of the state government's decision to make basic Marathi communication skills a requirement for taxi and autorickshaw drivers.
The assessment consists of 16 questions based on situations drivers commonly encounter while working. Officials assess whether drivers can communicate with passengers about destinations, directions, fares, routes, meters and vehicle stands.
The test is intended to determine whether drivers can handle routine conversations rather than whether they have complete fluency in Marathi.
The questionnaire was reportedly prepared using material from a Marathi language training programme conducted for taxi and autorickshaw drivers by the Konkan Sahitya Parishad. The training programme concluded on August 15.
The Maharashtra government says around 1.65 lakh drivers have already completed Marathi training and received certificates as part of a 105-day training campaign.
In Mumbai, nearly 1.25 lakh drivers reportedly completed the programme. However, around 7,750 drivers did not clear the assessment and are expected to take it again, while more than 14,000 drivers did not complete the training.
The government has maintained that the objective of the initiative is not to deprive drivers of their livelihoods but to improve communication between passengers and drivers while promoting the use of Marathi in the state.
The enforcement drive has also prompted concerns among representatives of taxi and autorickshaw unions and former RTO officials.
They have questioned whether the amended Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, provide a sufficiently precise definition of what constitutes "working knowledge" of Marathi. Some have also raised concerns about the absence of a clearly prescribed testing format and uniform assessment standards.
The state government has said the practical Marathi requirement for commercial passenger vehicle drivers has existed in Maharashtra since 1989, although it was not previously enforced as strictly.
The statewide checking campaign will continue through September 30. During this period, RTO flying squads will assess taxi and autorickshaw drivers at various locations across Maharashtra.
Drivers who receive notices will have a month to improve their Marathi communication skills and demonstrate that they can manage basic interactions with passengers.
The initiative is expected to remain a significant focus of the Maharashtra Transport Department as authorities continue enforcing the amended rules governing commercial passenger vehicles.
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