Google Maps Gets Six New Features in India; Flyover Alert, Metro Ticket Booking and More Added

To improve user experience and encourage sustainable travel, Google has introduced six new features for Google Maps in India. These features are said to be based on artificial intelligence and local partnerships. The updates are scheduled to be released this week and are intended to tackle some of the most common issues encountered by commuters in the country.

Miriam Daniel, VP & GM, Google Maps said, 'Our quest to build a better Maps experience is never ending, and India presents many amazing opportunities to bring the best of our AI and geospatial technologies to address complex real-world challenges. Many of these solutions are being pioneered in India, for India. From a custom-built AI approach for tackling narrow roads and flyovers to powering sustainable journeys with EV charging stations, as well as enabling the biggest community of maps contributors to surface real-time road disruptions on the map, we’re excited to bring such helpful features to millions across the country. India truly is at the center of our innovation, and we can’t wait to build the future of Maps right here.' Let's take a look at all the new features and how they work.

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Navigating Flyovers Becomes Easier

A new flyover callouts feature has been added to Google Maps to assist users in preparing for oncoming flyovers when driving in city traffic. According to the company, the purpose of the feature is to remove the need for drivers to decide whether to use the road below or a flyover while driving through a relatively unfamiliar area.

The new flyover callouts function should be available to Android smartphone and Android Auto unit users as early as this week. Initially, it will be limited to 40 cities across the country. Google says these callouts will show up on navigation routes for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Users of iOS and CarPlay will have to wait as the feature has no set date of arrival for these platforms.

Locating EV Charging Stations

Google Maps now provides information about EV charging stations across India, which will also appear in the company's search results. Drivers can see which plug types are supported at the charging station and whether it is open in real-time. The tech giant collaborated with four EV charging providers – Ather, ElectricPe, Kazam, and Statiq – to gather information for over 8,000 charging stations. This is also the first time that Google is providing details regarding EV charging facilities for two-wheelers in the world.

Avoiding Narrow Roads

The company is rolling out a new AI-powered navigation function that estimates the width of narrower roads and alerts four-wheeler drivers of the possibility of congested routes. Google claims to have created an AI model that leverages satellite photos, information about specific roads, known distances between buildings, footpaths, and even Street View data to locate small roads. As of now, the narrow road estimator is available for Android users in Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, and Guwahati. Other cities will receive the feature soon. 

Reporting Accidents

Google Maps additionally improved road incident reporting. According to the company, this has made reporting an accident or repairs and construction work on a road easier and requires less time. In contrast to the flyover callouts and narrow roads features, the improved process for reporting road incidents is accessible on all mobile and auto platforms.

Booking Metro Tickets

Google Maps will allow commuters to book metro tickets. The company has partnered with Namma Yatri and ONDC to provide this service on its navigation app. The company claims the users can purchase tickets while travelling the metro in Kochi and Chennai. Users will notice a booking option when using the Google Maps app to check public transport directions in these cities. This feature enables users to choose the details of their travel and pay for it directly from the app, doing away with the need to wait in queue for a ticket at the station.

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Curating Lists 

Google said earlier this year that it is simplifying the process for users to obtain curated lists and recommendations. It is offering more collaborative alternatives, such as the opportunity to add recommendations and itinerary details through the lists feature. The company announced customers in India can now access these features as well. Emoji reactions to recommendations are another feature of Maps that may facilitate consensus-building while planning trips.