Maharashtra Tightens Commercial Driver Rules Ahead of August 18 Marathi Deadline

The Maharashtra government has amended the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to clarify the Marathi language requirement for commercial passenger vehicle drivers and permit holders. The changes were made on Wednesday, August 12, and will come into effect from August 18.

Under the amended rules, drivers of autorickshaws and taxis will have to show a functional knowledge of Marathi. Those who fail to meet the requirement can have their driving licence suspended for up to three months.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the inclusion of app-based taxi drivers in the Marathi language requirement on Wednesday. This means the requirement will also cover aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido.

The changes also clarify the existing language requirement and set out the action that can be taken against those who do not comply. Under the amended rules, both drivers and the relevant permit holders must have a practical understanding of Marathi. Licensing authorities will assess whether a driver's Marathi proficiency is "satisfactory".

A driver who cannot demonstrate the required level of Marathi proficiency can have their driving licence suspended for three months. Repeated violations can result in the permanent cancellation of the relevant permit.

The change has been made to Rule 4. The amended provision includes a "working knowledge of the Marathi language" as a requirement for applicants seeking commercial driving authorisation. A new provision under Rule 22 also sets out the Marathi requirement for drivers authorised to operate app-based taxis. Changes to Rules 78 and 85 put the rule on permit holders.

Transport authorities will begin verification drives after August 15. Enforcement of the Marathi requirement will also be tightened as the August 18 deadline approaches.

The state government said the changes were made after complaints about drivers who could not understand Marathi. It said that practical knowledge of Marathi is important for back-and-forth between drivers and passengers.

More than 1.10 lakh non-Marathi-speaking passenger vehicle drivers have already completed the required four-hour Marathi training, according to the state government. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are scheduled to present certificates to these drivers on August 17.