Union Minister for Information Technology, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, took to the roads on Saturday to test Mappls, the indigenous navigation app developed by CE Info Systems Ltd's MapmyIndia, hailing it as a "great Swadeshi app" in a video that has since amassed over 500,000 views on X. The endorsement, shared amid India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat push for digital self-reliance, positions Mappls as a formidable challenger to global giants like Google Maps, with Vaishnaw demonstrating its real-time features during a drive and urging citizens to "download the Mappls App, experience the difference, and be a part of #OperationSwadeshi." This follows Vaishnaw's recent switch to Zoho Mail, signalling a broader governmental pivot toward homegrown tech amid global supply chain vulnerabilities and data sovereignty concerns.
Vaishnaw, who met the Mappls team prior to the test, highlighted the app's seamless integration in Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Tata Motors and Mahindra, noting, "All Indian car OEMs have it pre-installed. Let's see how good it is." In the footage, filmed from his moving vehicle, he showcased the 3D junction view—a standout feature rendering flyovers, underpasses, and roundabouts in immersive detail to prevent wrong turns in India's chaotic urban sprawl. He also praised its hyper-local precision, which extends navigation to specific shops within multi-storey buildings, and real-time alerts for traffic signals, CCTV cameras, and NHAI toll plazas. Additional tools like trip cost calculators and 360-degree street views further tailor it for Indian commuters, with voice-guided directions in multiple regional languages enhancing accessibility for over 1.4 billion users.
Launched in 2021 by MapmyIndia—a pioneer in digital mapping since 1995 with exclusive rights to much of India's geospatial data—Mappls leverages ISRO satellite imagery and AI-driven algorithms for accuracy surpassing 95% in urban areas. Unlike Google Maps, which dominates with 70% market share but faces antitrust scrutiny in India for alleged data biases, Mappls emphasises privacy compliance under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and offers offline maps for low-connectivity rural routes.
The app's free download via Google Play, Apple App Store, or mappls.com has spiked 30% post-Vaishnaw's post, with users reporting fewer glitches in monsoon-flooded cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru. MapmyIndia's CEO, Rohan Verma, responded gratefully with X: "Thank you for your kind words... We're committed to building world-class Indian technology," teasing expansions into EV charging stations and pilgrimage routes.
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Vaishnaw's trial coincides with a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) slated for signing between Indian Railways and Mappls, integrating the app's tech for real-time train tracking and station navigation across 1.2 lakh kilometres of network. This collaboration could revolutionise commuter apps for 23 million daily passengers, aligning with the ₹2.5 lakh crore rail modernisation budget. As India eyes 1 billion smartphone users by 2026, Mappls embodies the "Vocal for Local" ethos, potentially capturing 20% market share by 2030 per NITI Aayog projections.
Yet, challenges persist: scaling server infrastructure for peak-hour surges and countering Google’s ecosystem lock-in. Vaishnaw's hands-on validation not only boosts credibility but also accelerates the shift toward a data-secure, indigenous digital ecosystem, proving Swadeshi innovation can navigate global headwinds.
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