One Map, Many Applications

Home-grown MapmyIndia.com today partners with both the central and state governments, to make India a safer place.

- Ashish Sinha

FOR 67-YEAR-OLD Rakesh Verma it is a proud moment when he talks of his flagship venture MapmyIndia. com, a company he and his wife started way back in 1992. From developing quality maps with detailed topography in 1993 to supporting marketing and logistical operations of multinationals like Coca-Cola India and Cellular One and offering interactive digital map data, telematics and location-based SaaS (software as a service) and GIS (geographic information system)services, home-grown MapmyIndia. com has come a very long way.

Today the government consults Verma for everything to do with digital mapping and its applications, be it to improve border patrolling for the security services or better tax compliance by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. Even the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) works closely with the company and Verma on several fronts. “There are many things happening on which I am not supposed to talk,” says Verma with a smile when we meet him at a plush hotel in Gurugram.

“The general impression of digital maps is limited to its usage in navigation. That is the only connect for many people. But the applications of having mapped every inch of the country in accordance with the Government of India’s mapping guidelines throws up endless applications,” he says, sipping his green tea. Google may be a household name for everyday usage of digital maps, but it is MapmyIndia.com that government agencies rely on for classified projects. It has several other projects too that help local urban bodies or state transport authorities improve their day-to-day operations.

APPLICATIONS GALORE