Nagpur’s streets are getting a cultural makeover. In a bid to promote the everyday use of Marathi, the city’s traffic police have reprogrammed signals at major junctions to give instructions in the regional language.
Now, as vehicles line up at red lights, they’re greeted with the Marathi words ‘थांबा’ (Stop) and ‘जा’ (Go), replacing the familiar English commands. Even the countdown timers flash numbers in Marathi, adding a distinctly local flavor to the daily commute.
The initiative follows the Centre’s decision in October 2024 to grant Marathi classical language status — a milestone celebrated by language advocates after years of campaigning. Since then, the Maharashtra government has ramped up efforts to boost Marathi’s visibility in both official and public spheres. From making it compulsory in CBSE schools and Central Government offices to promoting Marathi signage and departmental communication, the state’s push to strengthen the language’s footprint has been gathering momentum.
The Traffic Police’s move may seem small, but it reflects a bigger effort to bring Marathi into people’s daily lives. Officials say using Marathi at traffic signals is meant to boost pride in the language and make it more visible in public areas across the city.
“This is not just about traffic signs. It’s about giving Marathi the prominence it deserves,” said a senior traffic official involved in the project.
As the initiative expands across Nagpur, language enthusiasts and cultural supporters are praising it as a small but important step in preserving and celebrating Maharashtra’s rich language heritage — one traffic signal at a time.
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