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India’s Map Revolution Starts Here: Exclusive Interview with Rakesh Verma, Founder, Chairman & MD, MapmyIndia
In an era where global tech giants dominate our digital navigation, one Indian company has quietly built a smarter, safer, and more sovereign alternative — right at home. MapmyIndia, the pioneer of indigenous mapping technology, is not just holding its ground; it’s rewriting the rules of the game.
From powering real-time traffic systems to integrating AI-driven safety alerts, MapmyIndia has emerged as a global player with Swadeshi roots. Now, the company has reached out to Perplexity to explore a new-age partnership that could merge India’s mapping intelligence with generative AI innovation.
In this candid conversation, Rakesh Verma, Founder, Chairman and MD, MapmyIndia, opens up about the company’s journey from the pre-GPS era to AI-powered 4D maps, the fight against digital monopolies, and why the future of navigation must have an Indian voice.
MapmyIndia and Mappls have seen a surge in downloads recently. What’s fueling this renewed wave of user interest?
The response has been phenomenal — we’ve seen growth up to twenty times what it was earlier. Users are engaging, sharing feedback, and helping us evolve. Every product improves with experience, and we’re grateful that Indians are discovering the quality of a home-grown innovation built for them.
You’ve said MapmyIndia is “better in many ways” than its global counterparts. What are those ways?
Our junction view is one such example — it helps drivers decide whether to take the flyover or stay below, improving road safety. We also offer pothole alerts, sharp turn warnings, and speed alerts, plus a traffic-signal integration we launched with Bengaluru Police.
We’ve been innovating for decades — from creating digital maps thirty years ago to launching a mapping portal before Google entered the space. The same goal has driven every step: solving India’s problems through Indian innovation.
What does your global roadmap look like now?
We’ve already started expanding into Southeast Asia and are moving toward the Middle East and Africa. Innovation for us isn’t just technological; it’s also about building sustainable business models.
Many Indian tech products failed because they lacked long-term viability. We’ve always believed in funding our own innovation, relying on human capital and passion more than external money.
MapmyIndia’s business model has been featured by Harvard Business Review as a “Customer-Funded Model.” What makes it so unique?
It’s what kept us resilient. When we began, there was no GPS — just 1G computers. From there, we built MapmyIndia.com, our own digital portal, and transitioned into GPS navigation. Today, our systems support both online and offline navigation, which is critical for areas with weak connectivity — something foreign apps still struggle with.
How has technology evolved from your early mapping days to the AI era?
In the early days, mapping was manual — using theodolites and ground surveys. Today, we use AI, LIDAR, drones, and satellite imagery to create ultra-precise maps.
We’ve been using AI for over 5 years to process satellite data and improve accuracy. Now, we’re moving into 4D maps, digital twins, and metaverse-ready environments. These aren’t buzzwords — they’re the next reality for navigation, governance, and smart mobility.
Despite such progress, foreign brands like Google still dominate. What remains your biggest challenge?
It’s what I call digital colonization. Just as the East India Company once ruled through trade, today, monopolistic tech platforms dominate through algorithms. They make users believe that global equals better — which isn’t true.
We’re not against competition, but we want fair visibility. It’s about strategic and economic autonomy — ensuring Indian innovation isn’t buried under algorithmic bias.
What government and public sector collaborations are you currently focusing on?
Since the 2021 mapping policy reform, we’ve partnered with over 10 major government bodies, including ISRO, NHAI, National Health Authority, CBDT, GSTN, and the Department of Posts (DigiPen).
We’ve also worked closely with several state police departments. The IT Minister’s public endorsement gave this movement a strong push, and we hope more ministries will join. We aren’t just Swadeshi — we’re superior in performance too.
What’s next for users of the Mappers and Mappls apps?
We’re listening to our users more closely than ever. Tomorrow or Monday, we’re rolling out an update with bug fixes, layout preferences (e.g., landscape vs. vertical), and performance enhancements.
We’ll continue to release updates every month. The goal is simple — a seamless, Indian-made navigation experience that rivals the best in the world.
Any final thoughts or message to your users?
We listen, we improve, and we innovate — for India and beyond. Our mission is to make navigation safer, smarter, and truly ours. This is not just a mapping movement — it’s India reclaiming its digital ground.
