Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash
If you’ve ever tried using Google Maps in India and found yourself wondering if it really understands local roads—or local drivers—you’re definitely not alone. But things are starting to change. Big time.
Google just announced a set of major updates to Maps for Indian users, and they’re actually pretty useful. Whether you’re a daily commuter or just someone who wants to get from Point A to B without, well, driving off an unfinished bridge, there’s a lot to like in this rollout.
Gemini is coming to your drive
The biggest news? Google is bringing its AI assistant, Gemini, to Maps in India over the next few weeks.
If you’re using Android or iOS, you’ll soon get hands-free, voice-enabled help while you drive. Gemini doesn’t just repeat your route—it adds context. Expect it to offer suggestions, answer questions mid-drive, and tell you more about places you’re passing.
Photo by Nitish Gouda on Unsplash
And it’s not just in English. At launch, Gemini will speak nine Indian languages. So whether you’re comfortable in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, or something else, navigating should feel a bit more personal.
Miriam Daniel, VP and head of Google Maps, explained why this update is a big deal: “When we say localizing for India, it’s not just the language… It’s also adapting to how Indians use the product, how they talk, how they ask for questions, how they identify places.”
Driving hazards? You’ll now get a heads-up
Google’s new updates aren’t just about being helpful—they’re also about staying safe.
In response to real tragedies, like the heartbreaking accident in Uttar Pradesh where a car followed Maps onto an unfinished bridge, Google is adding accident zone alerts.
- If you’re driving through accident-prone areas, Google Maps will now give you visual and audio warnings ahead of time.
- These alerts are rolling out first in Gurugram, Cyberabad (Hyderabad), Chandigarh, and Faridabad.
- Google is working directly with local authorities to make this happen, so the data should be close to real-time.
Real-time updates, even if you’re not using navigation
Tired of getting stuck in traffic or finding out about a detour too late? Another new set of features aims to fix that.
Now, Maps will send you proactive notifications about major disruptions—even when you’re not using turn-by-turn navigation. This includes road closures, delays, and diversions on major highways.
This feature is rolling out to Android users in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Speed limits and flyovers, now with clearer guides
If you drive regularly in urban India, you’ll know how confusing flyovers and branching roads can be. Google’s been working on this too.
- Speed limits will now show up during navigation in nine cities, including Jaipur, Kolkata, and Lucknow.
- Voice-guided support for navigating flyovers is on the way too. No more last-minute swerves.
More than maps: Local amenities added
One of the most useful new additions is subtle but important. Google Maps in India will now show more amenity info along national highways, like:
- Public restrooms
- Restaurants
- Fuel stations
This is happening thanks to a partnership with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is also feeding Google data on closures and repairs.
Why now?
Road conditions in India are unpredictable and change quickly. Anal Ghosh, a senior program manager at Google Maps, put it frankly: “Maps can’t be accurate 100% of the time… So we would encourage users to ensure that they’re keeping their eyes on the road.”
These updates feel like Google admitting that tech isn’t perfect—but that it can still help make daily travel smoother, safer, and better suited for real Indian roads.
So, if you’ve ever yelled at Google Maps for making you take a sketchy shortcut or wondered why it didn’t know about a closed flyover, you might start seeing fewer reasons to complain.
Let’s just hope it keeps getting better from here.
