Google Maps has announced new features for India, which may expand to other countries in the future. These include narrow road alerts and flyover notifications.
The narrow road feature calculates road width data from satellite imagery, Street View photos, and other information to assess the width of roads. It then determines different navigation routes between 4-wheelers and 2-wheelers to avoid issues with 4-wheelers entering narrow roads. If avoidance is possible, the system suggests wider routes, even if it means taking a detour. If avoidance is not possible, the system notifies drivers in advance that they will have to pass through a narrow passage.
The flyover or overpass notification feature is designed to solve the dilemma of whether to use the upper or lower road when traveling to different regions. The system clearly indicates when drivers must take the elevated route to prevent them from going the wrong way.
These two features will initially be available in some cities in India, starting with the Android and Android Auto versions. The iOS and CarPlay versions will follow later.
Google also stated that data on narrow roads and flyovers will be used in the Google Maps Platform Routes API. If using other apps that utilize Google’s API, users will see the same data.
Additionally, Google Maps now includes a feature to indicate the location of 2-wheeler motorbike charging stations (a first for India) and has improved the user interface for reporting road incidents. Reporting incidents is now easier, requiring just a few clicks on the icon.
TLDR: Google Maps introduces new features for India, including narrow road alerts, flyover notifications, 2-wheeler charging station locations, and improved road incident reporting.
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