Motion in opposition to drivers with out Marathi information from Aug 20: Maharashtra Minister

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) introduced {that a} drive will start on Thursday (August 20, 2026) to behave in opposition to auto‑rickshaw and taxi drivers with out a “working information” of Marathi.

Motion might be initiated in opposition to those that don’t possess the required certificates or working information of Marathi. Notices will first be issued, and if compliance is just not achieved, the motive force’s licence and badge could also be suspended for 3 months, he advised reporters.

A drive will start from Thursday (August 20, 2026) in opposition to autorickshaw and taxi drivers who should not have working information of Marathi, he mentioned.

“If somebody fails to take action even after three months, orders might be issued for cancellation of their license and badge,” Mr. Sarnaik mentioned.

Extra Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad will lead the month-long drive in opposition to non-Marathi taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers throughout the state, the Minister mentioned.

The Regional Transport Workplace (RTO) flying squads have been instructed by means of video convention to hold out checks and guarantee implementation of the amended guidelines. Video recording of the verification course of can even be carried out, he added.

Earlier, pointing to a provision within the amended motorized vehicle guidelines, Mr. Sarnaik had on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) mentioned that autorickshaw and taxi drivers throughout the State might be given a possibility to study Marathi earlier than any punitive motion is taken in opposition to them.

Nevertheless, the assertion did not allay fears amongst a big part of business passenger drivers within the State from different components of the nation and lack proficiency in Marathi.

Non-Marathi drivers in Maharashtra worry shedding livelihoods over the ambiguous “working information” requirement within the obligatory language rule, regardless of State assurances that they may get ample studying time, together with a 30-day discover interval, earlier than permits are revoked.

“The State authorities has made working information of Marathi obligatory, however what truly constitutes ‘working information’ has not been clearly outlined,” mentioned D.M. Gosavi, chief of the Seva Sarathi Autorickshaw Taxi and Transport Union.

He mentioned this ambiguity will gasoline corruption within the RTO and result in the monetary exploitation of drivers. A big part of business drivers within the State hail from different components of the nation and lack proficiency in Marathi.

Below the not too long ago amended state motorized vehicle guidelines, drivers face a one-month discover to accumulate a “working information” of Marathi. Failure to take action can lead to a three-month license suspension and the eventual cancellation of their working permits.

Almost six lakh autorickshaw and taxi drivers working in Maharashtra, significantly within the Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMR), might be introduced below a Marathi-language studying initiative, Mr. Sarnaik mentioned on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).

The Minister mentioned greater than 1.65 lakh folks from throughout the nation participated within the Marathi-learning initiative launched just a few months in the past.

“After this initiative, 1,65,601 drivers from throughout Maharashtra have come ahead,” Mr. Sarnaik mentioned, including that the Marathi Language Division would work with the Transport Division and different officers to strengthen the initiative.

Explaining the rationale behind the drive, the Shiv Sena MLA mentioned the federal government needs folks to study the language and determined to proceed this undertaking.