Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers will get one year to learn functional Marathi, with no action against them during the period for lacking the required language knowledge. The decision follows concerns raised by driver representatives that many workers belong to different age groups and had left formal education years ago, making it difficult to learn the language within a short deadline. Driver organisations have supported the requirement but sought additional time to comply.

The state government had earlier required non-Marathi-speaking commercial passenger vehicle drivers to learn basic Marathi. It had initially set a deadline and also arranged Marathi classes to help drivers acquire the necessary skills. However, a recent checking drive by the Transport Department resulted in notices being issued to drivers who were unable to demonstrate adequate knowledge of Marathi. The enforcement action prompted representatives of auto-rickshaw and taxi organisations to approach the chief minister and request more time.

Fadnavis said representatives led by Haji Arfat Shaikh had assured the government that drivers were willing to learn basic Marathi and accepted the importance of being able to communicate in the state's official language. However, they highlighted practical difficulties in imposing the requirement within a short period, particularly for drivers who had been away from formal education for many years. The government subsequently accepted their request and extended the compliance period to one year.

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During the extended period, the government plans to organise Marathi classes and provide study material to help drivers develop functional language skills. Fadnavis said no action would be taken against drivers during this period because of a lack of the required Marathi knowledge. The approach is intended to give drivers sufficient time to meet the language requirement while allowing the government to continue with its broader policy of improving communication between commercial drivers and passengers.

The issue gained attention after the Transport Department conducted statewide checks involving commercial passenger vehicle drivers. On the first day of the checking drive, notices were issued to 1,268 drivers, mainly from the auto-rickshaw and taxi sectors, for allegedly lacking adequate Marathi knowledge. Under the earlier arrangement, drivers who failed the language test were given a limited period to acquire working knowledge of Marathi, with possible suspension of their badges for repeated non-compliance.

The latest decision therefore puts immediate enforcement on hold and gives drivers additional time to prepare. The government will focus on training and providing learning resources during the one-year period. For drivers, the extension offers greater flexibility to acquire functional Marathi without facing immediate penalties, while the state continues to pursue its requirement that public-facing commercial drivers should be able to communicate in the official language.

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