Google Maps Updates: New Features to Ease User Experience and More in 2024

Google Maps Flyover Confusion: US tech giant Google has introduced a set of new features and updates to ease user experience. Now, it will become easier for travelers to decide whether to take a flyover or now. Moreover, Google Maps will now help flag narrow roads for four-wheelers starting this week.

In a much-needed update that would come as a relief for lakhs of users, Google recently unveiled new “helpful” features for Google Maps in India. These include the much-needed flyover feature that will help commuters easily decipher whether to take a flyover or not.

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, we’re excited to bring such helpful features to millions across the country,” said Miriam Daniel, VP and GM.

In a blog post last week, the US tech giant stated that India is at the center of its innovation, and “we can’t wait to build the future of Maps right here.” It is worth mentioning here that Google has mapped over 70 lakh kilometers of roads, 3000 lakh buildings, and 350 lakh businesses and places across the country.

With the new flyover navigation feature, it will become much easier for travelers to decide whether to go over a flyover or not. Starting this week, you’ll see these flyover callouts in 40 cities across India for both four-wheeler and two-wheeler active navigation on Android apps and Android Auto. iOS and CarPlay support will be coming soon, Google said.

Google has introduced a new feature for Google Maps users in India designed to reduce the use of narrow roads when driving four-wheelers. To tackle this, they have developed an AI model specifically for Indian roads that incorporates multiple signals – satellite imagery, Street View, and other information like road types, distance between buildings, paved sections, etc. to estimate road widths at scale.

The US tech major has teamed up with leading EV charging providers in India – ElectricPe, Ather, Kazam, and Statiq – to add authoritative information for over 8,000 charging stations. This feature would help commuters get information about EV charging stations.

Last December, Google had announced a collaboration with ONDC and Namma Yatri to streamline the public transport experience on Google Maps. This metro booking experience in Google Maps is now going live in Kochi and Chennai, powered by ONDC and Namma Yatri.

Overall, Google Maps users in India can look forward to a more enhanced and user-friendly experience thanks to these new features and updates rolled out by the tech giant.