India, April 29 -- The Maharashtra transport department will launch a special verification drive from May 1 to August 15 to ensure effective implementation of the decision to make Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the State, minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, the transport minister said that under the drive, licences of the drivers will not be cancelled solely for not knowing Marathi, but strict action will be taken against the violators and those engaged in illegal transportation.

"Action will be taken only as per existing legal provisions," he said.

The drive will be carried out across all 59 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the State under the supervision of a committee ...