Dombivli Auto Drivers Learn Marathi to Ease Passenger Talk

In Dombivli, a two-month *Marathi language communication workshop* has concluded, with non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw drivers receiving certificates for completing the training. The initiative, organised by the Rickshaw Chalak-Malak Sanghatana, was designed to help drivers who do not speak Marathi communicate more comfortably with passengers during everyday interactions on the road.

The certificate ceremony, held at the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple Centre in Garibachapada, was attended by transport officials, union representatives, and trainers from the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad. As part of the event, drivers took a symbolic pledge, promising to learn and use Marathi while interacting with commuters.

Organisers were careful to clarify that the effort was not about creating a *language barrier* but about bridging communication gaps between drivers and passengers. Officials, including Sub-Regional Transport Officer Ashutosh Barkul, have encouraged more drivers to join future batches.

The programme underscores how basic language proficiency can meaningfully improve everyday public transport interactions in the linguistically diverse Kalyan-Dombivli belt, where drivers and passengers often come from different linguistic backgrounds.