The Maharashtra government has given non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers an additional year to learn basic Marathi, easing concerns among migrant drivers about the recent language mandate.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that drivers would now have one year to acquire working knowledge of Marathi. He clarified that the government is not expecting drivers to become fluent in the language, but wants them to be able to communicate with passengers in simple Marathi.
Fadnavis said many drivers come from educationally and economically weaker backgrounds and may need more time to learn the language. The extension is aimed at ensuring compliance without affecting their livelihoods.
The move comes weeks after the Maharashtra government’s decision to make Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers triggered protests from sections of transport workers, particularly those from outside Maharashtra.
Under the original framework, drivers who failed to demonstrate practical knowledge of Marathi faced notices, licence suspension and even cancellation of permits in extreme cases.
The language rule had been strongly backed by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who argued that public transport operators in Maharashtra should be able to communicate with passengers in the state’s official language. The policy also led to protests and sporadic tensions in parts of Mumbai, with several driver groups alleging harassment and confusion over enforcement.
Fadnavis has repeatedly stressed that the requirement is for “basic communication” and not language expertise.
The Marathi language issue has been politically sensitive in Maharashtra, where parties across the spectrum have long championed the use of the state’s official language.
The government has maintained that the objective of the rule is to improve communication between drivers and passengers rather than penalise workers.