India’s push for homegrown digital innovation just got another boost as the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently tested Mappls which is a Made-in-India navigation app developed by MapmyIndia, and praised it for offering world-class features that can rival global apps like Google Maps.
India’s Own Navigation App
Mappls is not just another map app, but it is India’s very own navigation platform which is designed to give users voice-guided directions, real-time traffic updates and hyper-local search for nearby places like ATMs, petrol pumps, restaurants or cafes. This app is built by MapmyIndia which is a company that has been mapping India’s roads for over two decades and Mappls aims to give Indians an alternative that’s more reliable, privacy-focused and proudly local.
After testing the app himself, Minister Vaishnaw shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), explaining how Mappls features match global benchmarks. In the video, the minister demonstrated how efficiently this local navigation app works, especially the 3D junction view, which helps drivers understand complex and difficult road layouts such as flyovers, underpasses or crossroads more easily.
Smart Features for Smarter Driving
Apart from basic navigation, Mappls also offers a hub of advanced features like the drivers get real-time driving alerts, live traffic signal updates and even information on CCTV camera points along the route which helps them stay alert and safe. Another handy tool is its trip cost calculator, which estimates travel expenses before you start your journey.
The app’s 3D junction view is one of its standout features that gives users a realistic look at upcoming road splits and turns.
Collaboration with Indian Railways
During his demonstration, Vaishnaw also revealed an exciting development. He said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Railways and Mappls will soon be signed and this partnership could integrate Mappls advanced mapping and navigation systems into railway operations which will improve travel information and logistics.
As India continues to encourage local innovation under the Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, Mappls stands out as one of the examples of how Indian technology can go head-to-head with global giants.