Mumbai, Regional Transport Offices across Maharashtra on Thursday launched a drive to check taxi and autorickshaw drivers’ working knowledge of Marathi, with teams ordered to videograph the exercise, officials said.
Motor Vehicle rules notified on August 12, which require these public transport drivers to have working knowledge of Marathi, said officials.
Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad will oversee the statewide drive, while RTO flying squads have been instructed to conduct checks, said officials. Sarnaik has said that drivers found lacking in the required proficiency would initially be given an opportunity to learn the language. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday announced a month-long drive to check the Marathi language proficiency of drivers across the state and directed RTOs to videograph the process. If they fail to comply, their licence and badge would be suspended for three months, and continued non-compliance could lead to cancellation of the licence and badge, he said on Wednesday.
He said 1.65 lakh drivers had already undergone Marathi training and been issued certificates during a 105-day campaign, which received a good response.
The minister said that the government does not intend to affect anyone’s livelihood but wants to ensure that Marathi language and the state’s identity and culture are preserved.
