The Maharashtra government has renewed its push to enforce a long-standing directive requiring drivers of autorickshaws, taxis, and app-based transport services to communicate with passengers in Marathi, amid concerns over weak implementation across several regions.

Renewed Focus on a 2019 Directive

The policy, first introduced in 2019, mandates that drivers operating commercial passenger vehicles - including those working with aggregators such as Ola and Uber - should be able to converse in Marathi. However, officials say compliance has remained inconsistent, particularly among drivers who have migrated from other states.