Mumbai: In a major push to strengthen the use of Marathi in public transport services, the Maharashtra Government has launched a sweeping state-wide campaign to check whether auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers can communicate in the state language. The drive has already thrown up startling findings, with nearly 15 to 20 percent of drivers screened during a pilot project reportedly unable to speak basic Marathi properly.
The move, which has sparked both support and controversy, is being seen as one of the most aggressive language-compliance exercises undertaken by the transport department in recent years.
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The campaign began with a pilot inspection drive conducted between April 2 and May 1 in the Mira-Bhayander region, where transport officials checked around 3,760 drivers out of nearly 12,000 registered autorickshaw operators. During the verification process, officials reportedly found that a significant number of drivers struggled to communicate in Marathi despite operating public transport vehicles in Maharashtra.
Following the pilot exercise, the State Government has now decided to expand the campaign across all 59 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Maharashtra from May 1 to August 15.
Officials said the ongoing inspections are not limited to vehicle permits and documents alone. Drivers are also being informally assessed on their ability to speak and understand Marathi while interacting with passengers.
Under Rule 24 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules, drivers operating public transport vehicles are expected to possess basic knowledge of Marathi along with at least one additional commonly spoken language. Authorities argue that the rule exists to ensure smoother communication between commuters and drivers and to preserve the prominence of the local language in daily public life.
The issue has once again ignited debate over language identity, migrant employment and regional expectations in Maharashtra’s urban transport network.
While some Marathi organisations have welcomed the drive, calling it necessary to protect the linguistic identity of the state, several taxi and autorickshaw unions have expressed concern that migrant drivers may face unnecessary harassment or discrimination in the name of enforcement.
Sensing the growing sensitivity around the issue, the government has clarified that the present campaign is focused on awareness and training rather than punishment.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik have both stated that no strict punitive action, including permit cancellation or fines linked to language compliance, will be taken during the current phase of the drive.
Officials said drivers who lack basic Marathi-speaking skills would instead be encouraged to learn the language through awareness programmes and practical guidance.
However, the campaign has already triggered sharp public discussions across Maharashtra, with many questioning how thousands of drivers were allowed to operate for years without meeting even the basic language expectations laid down under transport rules.
