Having used online maps for driving directions in US, I was wondering if such a facility will be available in India too. I was looking at Google maps regularly, and observed they had updated themselves with Bangalore map also, but it would not calculate driving directions etc. However, Google is extremely good at making the technology spread especially internet. They make several things which were developed by them available to you without any cost. You can insert Google map yourself in your website to show a particular place, city etc. I kept wondering if this could be extended to using it for Bangalore transport purposes.
It was then I found this site Bangalore Transport Information System (BTIS). BTIS is at still nascent stage as it requires lot of improvement. Nevertheless, it has already some cool features like Live Traffic conditions, Area look up (locating an area in Bangalore) and driving directions…hurray! Yes. I tried some driving directions and it was relatively OK. You can not expect door to door directions (may be impossible) but this is something more than anybody would expect in the current circumstances. Apart from driving directions, one can also get the distance, estimated travel time and auto rickshaw fare. You can have this delivered to your mobile phone if you are so willing. AirTel users can avail this facility by sending SMS to 54321. There is a specific format for this, and I suggest you get that from the BTIS site itself.
This is an initiative from Bangalore City Traffic Police. The site is developed by another entrepreneurial initiative at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore campus called MapUnity along with AirTel.
These are the initiatives that put the technology to good use. We should encourage them in whatever the way we can. BTW drive safely.
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