Maharashtra makes domicile certificate mandatory for driving licences starting August 1

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will make a domicile certificate mandatory for anyone seeking a driving licence from 1 August 2026, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced to the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

Sarnaik stated that the draft for the new driving licence regulations has been submitted to the Law and Judiciary Department for evaluation and will be enforced once formal clearance is granted.

The minister, responding to a query from MLA Dilip Lande during Question Hour, also noted that the administration is cracking down on unpermitted bike taxi operators while simultaneously designing a legal framework to formalise the sector, raise state revenue, and generate jobs for young people.

Under the upcoming policy, bike taxi providers must pay a daily charge of 5 rupees to the government. Furthermore, 2 rupees from each completed journey will be directed into a dedicated welfare fund for the drivers.

Sarnaik emphasised that rigorous enforcement will persist against operators who breach traffic laws or run transport services unlawfully. He added that the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, contain tailored measures aimed at protecting women, students, and underage passengers.

According to the minister, bike taxi riders must possess a valid driving licence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, along with a public service vehicle badge as stipulated by the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. A police background check will be required before any such badge is granted.

"Rules prohibit the use of private two-wheelers for passenger transport without authorisation. However, the State Transport Authority had granted 30-day temporary licences for operations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to aggregator companies Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido) and ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ola), subject to compliance with all prescribed conditions within one month," Sarnaik said.

He stated that enforcement measures targeting illegal bike taxi operations have been stepped up across the state.

"Between April 2025 and March 2026, transport authorities detected 814 vehicles operating without valid permits, seized 151 vehicles, registered 14 FIRs, and recovered fines amounting to Rs 16.25 lakh," he said.

During April and May of 2026, enforcement teams penalised 211 vehicles, impounding 66 of them and collecting 2.31 lakh rupees in fines, though no FIRs were filed during those two months.

The minister reiterated that the overarching policy seeks to integrate bike taxi operations into a lawful structure while guaranteeing commuter safety, regulating riders, boosting the treasury, and providing employment pathways for the youth.

With inputs from PTI