Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik today said that the state government has deferred its decision to make speaking Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers.

 

Speaking after a meeting with various taxi and rickshaw unions in Mumbai, Mr. Sarnaik said the discussions were positive and that none of the associations opposed the use of Marathi. However, the unions sought additional time to comply with the proposed requirement. 

 

He also assured that the government would ensure that no driver loses their livelihood due to the policy while continuing efforts to promote the use of Marathi among public transport operators. The Minister reiterated that the government remains firm on its decision to make Marathi mandatory.