Maharashtra's Transport Minister Advocates for Marathi Language Among Drivers

Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced a significant initiative to promote the Marathi language among auto rickshaw and taxi drivers. With a meeting scheduled for April 28, the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh will lead efforts to teach the language statewide. A campaign starting May 1 will assess drivers' language skills and check for fraudulent documents. Sarnaik emphasized that understanding and speaking Marathi will be mandatory for drivers, aiming to enhance compliance and eliminate irregularities in transport licensing. This initiative marks a crucial step in fostering regional language use in the transportation sector.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 24, 2026, 12:58 IST

Promotion of Marathi Language for Auto and Taxi Drivers

On Thursday, Pratap Sarnaik, the Transport Minister of Maharashtra, highlighted initiatives aimed at promoting the Marathi language among auto rickshaw and taxi drivers in the state. He announced that a meeting with trade union leaders is scheduled for April 28. During a press conference, Sarnaik mentioned that the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh will take the lead in teaching Marathi to taxi drivers across the state, while the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad will also collaborate to provide Marathi education in the Konkan region.

Collaboration with Trade Unions

Sarnaik stated that the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh has accepted the responsibility of teaching Marathi to auto and taxi drivers through its various branches statewide. This initiative aims to enhance the use of the Marathi language. Additionally, the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad will jointly teach Marathi in the Konkan area. To gather suggestions on this matter, several meetings with union leaders will be organized. Sarnaik confirmed that a meeting with Shashank Rao, a leader of the auto and taxi drivers' union, will take place on April 28, where they will listen to their opinions and share their own thoughts. Any suggestions received will be considered for implementation.

Campaign to Verify Language Skills

Furthermore, Sarnaik emphasized the importance of learning spoken Marathi, announcing that a campaign will commence on May 1 to check for fraudulent documents and language proficiency among auto and taxi drivers. The Transport Minister explained that this initiative aims to determine whether drivers can understand and speak Marathi. While writing in Marathi is not mandatory, drivers must demonstrate their ability to comprehend and communicate in the language.

Mandatory Marathi for Drivers

Earlier this month, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik declared that proficiency in the Marathi language will be mandatory for operating rickshaws in the state. During a press conference, he clarified that this requirement applies to all rickshaw drivers. Sarnaik warned that action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the regulations following the checks on May 1. Under this new initiative, drivers will need to prove their ability to read, write, and speak Marathi. The goal of this pilot project is to eliminate irregularities in the issuance of transport licenses, with plans for gradual implementation across the state.