Google Maps Launches Street View Across 10 Cities
On July 27, 2022, Google Maps announced the launch of its street view service in ten Indian cities in collaboration with two local companies.
For security reasons, the government previously prohibited the display of panoramic images of roads and other sites.
Google said in a statement that Street View is being launched in collaboration with Genesys International and Tech Mahindra.
“Starting yesterday, Street View will be available on Google Maps with fresh imagery licenced from local partners covering over 1,50,000 km across ten cities in India,” it said. “These cities include Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nashik, Vadodara, Ahmednagar, and Amritsar.”
By the end of 2022, Google, Genesys International, and Tech Mahindra intend to expand this to more than 50 cities.
This is the first time in the world that Street View has been brought to life entirely by local partners.
In addition, starting with Bengaluru, Google Maps will now display speed limit data shared by traffic authorities.
Google also announced a collaboration with the Bengaluru traffic police as part of its efforts to develop models that improve traffic light timing.
“This is assisting the local traffic authority in managing road congestion at key intersections and will eventually scale across the city,” according to the statement, adding that “Google will further expand this to Kolkata and Hyderabad in partnership with local traffic authorities.” In response to the announcements, Miriam Karthika Daniel, VP – of Google Maps Experiences, stated that the launch of Street View in India will be critical in providing a more helpful user experience, from virtually visiting locations to getting a better sense of local businesses and establishments.
Genesys International Corporation Ltd’s Managing Director, Sajid Malik, said, “We were the first Indian company to perform street imaging in all major Indian cities. Our fleet is still rapidly photographing Indian cities, bringing to life our city’s amazing tapestry of streets and landmarks and allowing us to visit our old neighborhoods or plan our trips with ease.” Local developers will also have access to Street View APIs, allowing them to provide richer mapping experiences in their services.
Google also announced a partnership with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to provide air quality data.
This data is available by tapping the ‘Layers’ button at the top right of their Maps app and then selecting the ‘Air Quality’ option.
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