Google Maps wants to help you navigate flyovers and narrow roads in India

Google is harnessing its geospatial capabilities and the power of AI to help users improve their driving experience.

Indian roads are not for beginners. Navigating on Indian roads can be a challenge, particularly for those unfamiliar with the city and faced with decisions like choosing between flyovers or adjacent service roads.

Another common pain point for four-wheeler drivers is navigating narrow, congested roads in unfamiliar areas.

To tackle these challenges, Google is harnessing its geospatial capabilities and the power of artificial intelligence.

Google Maps is integrating flyover callouts into the navigation experience to help users in India see upcoming flyovers along the route, the tech giant said on July 25.

"Flyovers in India have unique traits and challenges, unlike what we see in other parts of the world. For example, the approach to the flyover or the ramp can be very sudden, or it could be in the middle of a road you're on. " said Lalitha Ramani, General Manager, Google Maps, India.

Flyover guidance has been one of the most requested features from Google Maps users, she said.

In addition, with the rapid pace of infrastructure growth in India in recent years, new flyovers are constantly being added or extended, which makes it important to ensure that these flyovers are accurately mapped, refreshed and maintained, Ramani said.

Flyover callouts will be available in 40 cities across India for both four-wheeler and two-wheeler navigation on Google Maps' Android app and Android Auto. The feature will be available on the iOS app and Apple's CarPlay soon, the company said.

Google Maps is integrating flyover callouts into the navigation experience to help users in India see upcoming flyovers along the route

It's worth noting that rival MapmyIndia had also introduced Junction View feature to its mapping app Mappls in 2022 that lets users navigate intersections and flyovers while driving.

Read: Google Maps to provide metro tickets in Kochi, Chennai via Namma Yatri

Navigating narrow roads

Google is also rolling out a new routing capability for Google Maps in India that is designed to reduce the use of narrow roads when driving four-wheelers.

Ramani said the company has developed an AI model specifically for Indian roads that estimates road width using satellite and Street View imagery. The model also incorporates information such as the road type, distance between buildings, tree cover, polls and drains, and paved sections among others.

Using these road width estimates, Google has fine-tuned the existing AI routing algorithms to help four-wheelers avoid narrow roads wherever possible, she said.

"In doing so, we've ensured that the ETA (Estimated Time on Arrival) on the routes won't be disrupted significantly... Reducing four wheelers on these narrow roads also means bikers who are using the two wheeler mode, or pedestrians who are using the walking mode in Google Maps can use these roads more safely and confidently" Ramani said.

In cases where narrow roads are unavoidable, Google Maps will add clear narrow road callouts in navigation to warn users about narrow sections ahead.

Google Maps will add clear narrow road callouts in navigation for four-wheeler drivers where it is unavoidable

This feature will be available on Android devices in eight cities of Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Indore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati later this week. Google plans to expand it to more cities and iOS devices soon.

Google stated that both these features were developed locally for India tailored to the unique navigation needs of consumers in the country. These features will also be available to developers through Google Maps Platform Routes API soon, enabling them to integrate narrow road and flyover callouts into their own apps and services.

"India presents many 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...India truly is at the center of our innovation, and we can’t wait to build the future of Maps right here" said Miriam Daniel, Vice President and General Manager, Google Maps.

Read: AI will drive the future of Google Maps in India, says VP Miriam Daniel

EV charger stations

Google will also provide information about electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on both Google Maps and Google Search in India.

The company has partnered with local EV charging providers such as Ather, ElectricPe, Kazam, and Statiq to provide authoritative information for over 8,000 charging stations. Ramani said this will cover a major share of available charging stations in India.

Google will provide detailed information like plug types (including those for two-wheelers) and real-time availability. One can simply search for EV charging stations, and view nearby stations with the charger details. One can also filter by their specific charger type and check if the station is open before they head over.

Ramani said that India is the first country where it is offering information on EV charging stations for two-wheelers on Google Maps and the company plans to eventually roll out this feature to other markets.

Read: Google to slash Maps Platform pricing for Indian developers by up to 70% from August 1

Apart from these features, Google also announced that it will start allowing metro train passengers in Kochi and Chennai to buy tickets directly through Google Maps starting this week, in collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the mobility app Namma Yatri.

The tech giant is also simplifying how people can report road incidents. Users can report an ongoing construction or a traffic mishap on their route with a few taps or confirm other people's reports with a single tap.

Google said it also recently made it easier for people to create, share and collaborate on lists of their favorite places.

The firm has also collaborated with local experts such as MagicPin and NDTV Food who have put together curated lists for ten major cities and tourist spots including Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Jaipur. These lists will offer tips and recommendations for the best places to eat, drink, and explore, the company said.