VIDEO | What is Mappls? Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tests Indian-made navigation app amid 'Swadeshi' push

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday tested 'Mappls'—a homegrown navigation application, developed by MapmyIndia.

This comes after Zoho Corporation's Zoho Mail and Arattai (India's competitor for WhatsApp) were recently publicised for being an important part of India's "Har Ghar Swadeshi" movement.

In a similar fashion, Mappls takes on Google Maps, the navigation giant from Google that is a staple for the modern commuter.

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"Good features … must try!" Vaishnaw wrote in a post on X, which also included a video of him speaking about the application's features.

"A unique feature of Mappls that I came to know of, was that wherever there is an underpass or overbridge, the app offers a three-dimensional overview of the area ahead," he says in the video.

He also mentions the app's multi-floor navigation feature, which offers more specific directions within places like shopping malls, hospitals, or office complexes.

Mappls, which also comes with features like junction view, live traffic signal timers, safety alerts, and regional language support, has its user data stored in India instead of the US, just like Zoho Mail.

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As the app prepares to take on Google Maps' dominance in India, it is expected to first tackle its foreign competitor's location issues in remote areas, as well as gaps in regional language support.

MapmyIndia is also preparing to boost its database of digital addresses to improve location accuracy, in addition to a possible railway integration as well, if its MoU with Indian Railways comes through.

“MapmyIndia Mappls—the nation's leading digital mapping and deep-tech pioneer—proudly joins hands with India Post to bring to life India's first comprehensive digital address system through the integration of DIGIPIN into the Mappls app platform,” a PTI report said, citing MapmyIndia co-founder, chairman, and managing director Rakesh Verma.

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