Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) warned that the licences of taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers can be cancelled from August 16 if they fail to clear the functional Marathi language test.The Maharashtra Transport Department had set the deadline of August 15 for all non-Marathi auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn practical Marathi.Speaking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Transport Minister Sarnaik said around 450 teachers have been engaged to train drivers in functional Marathi, and the government has given them time till August 16 to learn the language."Under Rules 4, 22 and 85 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, drivers have been given time till August 16 to learn functional Marathi. Thereafter, strict action will be taken. If a vehicle operator fails the functional Marathi test, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been empowered to cancel the licence to operate," he said.The minister said the earlier penalty for violations was a fine of ₹500, but the amended provisions now allow cancellation of licences for those failing the Marathi language test.Replying to a question on making domicile certificates mandatory for bike taxi operators, Mr. Sarnaik said the two-wheeler taxi service will officially commence in Maharashtra from August 1.He said a welfare cess of ₹5 per vehicle per day and an additional levy of 2% on every fare will be collected and utilised exclusively for the welfare of bike taxi operators.
