Google Finally Launches Street View In India

Google has launched its Street View service in Google maps which will be first launched in 10 cities. The Street View feature allows people to virtually explore landmarks, restaurants, malls and places from the phone itself. Google Maps will also show things like speed limits, road closures and information about disruptions. Google has also partnered with local traffic authorities for information about better-optimised traffic lights.

Google Street View collects high definition images to give users 360 degree view of streets, tourist spots, hills and rivers. The feature explores places worldwide through 360-degree panoramic and street-level 3D imagery.

The Indian government banned Street View in India 10 years ago due to security concerns. This re-launch comes after a partnership with Genesys International, an advanced mapping company and Tech Mahindra. To begin with, Street View right now only works in Bangalore on a pilot basis. Soon, Google revealed that it will first launch in Hyderabad and then Kolkata. Post these two cities, Google will add Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Vadodara, Ahmednagar and Amritsar.

All one needs to do is open Google Maps and search for the location. There will be a dedicated Street View icon which will give you the virtual look instead of the map. This way you can get a virtual look at eateries, and cultural hotspots and can also virtually navigate local neighbourhoods.

"Street View will help people navigate and explore new corners of the country and the world in a more visual and accurate way, enabling them to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places, right from their phone or computer," the company said.

By the end of 2022, Street View will be launched in more than 50 cities and Google has even partnered with the Central Pollution Control Board to provide air quality index (AQI) data within Google Maps.

Street View is one of the earliest examples of augmented reality something which Google developed leveraging its Google Earth technology. Cars which had special imaging hardware would chart and map locations around the world to give a virtual view of destinations from within Google Maps. In India, the government denied Google permission to run its Street View cars on Indian roads.