Marathi Proficiency Test for Taxi and Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Made Mandatory from August 16

Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced on Wednesday that taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers failing to pass a Marathi language proficiency test will face license cancellations starting August 16. This decision follows the state government’s earlier directive, which mandated that all licensed drivers must possess a basic understanding of Marathi, effective from May 1.

Initially, the implementation of this requirement was delayed from its original date to August 15, providing drivers additional time to prepare for the test. The assessment will evaluate drivers on their capability to read Marathi signage, write simple sentences, and engage in basic conversations in the language, which is vital for effective communication in the state.

This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport services are accessible and culturally integrated within the Marathi-speaking populace. Communication barriers can lead to misunderstandings, and the Maharashtra government is taking steps to bridge this gap in the transport sector.

In a related development, Minister Sarnaik also addressed the issue of bike taxi operators, revealing that licensed bike taxi services will officially launch in Maharashtra on August 1. In a bid to regulate this burgeoning sector, the government has made domicile certificates compulsory for individuals seeking to operate bike taxis. Sarnaik noted that the introduction of domicile requirements is necessary to curb the influx of unauthorized operators, which has posed challenges for law enforcement and regulatory bodies.

He stated, “We are introducing legislative provisions to ensure that anyone wishing to operate a bike taxi service must provide a domicile certificate confirming their residency in Maharashtra.” This move aims to maintain order in the rapidly growing bike taxi market and ensure that services are offered by legitimate operators.

Source: scroll.in