You will be able to see a 360-degree panoramic view of Indian streets and landscape soon on your mobiles using the Google maps street view function. India is getting street view, 11 years after its launch by Google as the same was banned by the Indian Government due to security reasons.

Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry, and security agencies were concerned about how such high-resolution images can be potentially misused particularly for carrying out attacks like 26/11.

The new Geospatial policy of the Indian Government allowed Google to launch the street view feature in India under which local companies are allowed to collect data and license it to foreign companies. Google for its street view feature has partnered with Genesys International and Tech Mahindra.

This is the first instance throughout the world when Google street view is coming to life with data from local partners, who have already covered 150,000 KMs in over 10 cities. The feature as of today is live in Banglore and will be launched in the other 10 cities soon, the number will be expanded to 50 cities by the end of this year.

"Street View will help people navigate and explore new corners of the country and the world more visually and accurately, enabling them to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places, right from their phone or computer," the company said.

Google says in the future API of the feature will be available too so that local developers can make use of it for an enhanced and richer mapping experience.

Coincidentally Indian mapping company MapMyIndia too launced its own 360 degree panaromic street view service called as MappIs Real View on the same day as Google. The company also launched a 3D Metaverse maps service alongside this view. The Indian mapping space is for sure heating up in a duopoly battle.