The Transport Department has made the certificate mandatory for non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi permit holders and drivers. (Express File Photo by Arul Horizon)Non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi permit holders and drivers in Pune can attend Marathi language training workshops being conducted at the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) until January 23, 2027, as part of a state government initiative to familiarise them with the language, officials said.The training programme is being organised under the second phase of the ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Course Campaign’, which is being implemented across Maharashtra. The second phase commenced from October 2, 2026, and will run till January 23, 2027.The initiative is being jointly conducted by the State Marathi Development Institute, Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh and the Transport Department. Under the programme, autorickshaw and taxi permit holders and drivers who do not speak Marathi will be given basic practical knowledge of the language through four training sessions.Also Read | ‘Meter chalu karo’ now part of Marathi test: How Maharashtra is grilling auto, cab driversThe workshops will be held daily from 3 pm to 4 pm at the Sahakar Auditorium on the first floor of the Pune RTO building near Sangam Bridge.After completing the training, participants will have to undergo an assessment of their basic practical knowledge of Marathi and will be issued certificates. The Transport Department has made the certificate mandatory for non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi permit holders and drivers.According to officials, only the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh have been authorised to issue these certificates, and certificates issued by these two organisations will be considered valid. Drivers attending the training have been asked to carry their Aadhaar cards, autorickshaw or taxi driving licences, vehicle permits and two passport-sized photographs.