Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that all drivers of commercial passenger vehicles must possess a working knowledge of Marathi. This requirement is set to take effect on May 1, with the government planning strict actions against non-compliant drivers. Sarnaik acknowledged the reasonable demands from autorickshaw and taxi unions for a fixed period to learn the language, which the government is currently considering. He emphasized that effective communication with passengers is essential, and having basic Marathi skills is a minimum expectation for conducting business in the state. To assist drivers, the government will introduce a short course on functional Marathi and conduct awareness campaigns, with support from local literary organizations. A meeting with transport officers is scheduled to further discuss the implementation of this initiative.