Smart maps can help India save $8 billion

New Delhi: Pitching for greater use of internet-based mapping solutions, a study has found that smart maps can boost productivity and help improve emergency service response while saving over $8 billion in the country.

According to the study conducted by advisory firm Dalberg and industry chamber CII, smart maps can be useful in development of smart cities, while facilitating huge economic benefits for citizens, businesses and the government alike.

“But the study highlights that smart maps can help India gain upwards of $8 billion in savings and value, save 13,000 lives and reduce one million metric tonnes of carbon emissions a year in top cities alone,” Dalberg Global Development Advisors principal Pritha Venkatachalam said.

It also said that smart maps will make commuting more efficient, helping consumers and businesses alike to save time and money.

“The Transport Corporation of India estimates that India loses $11 billion annually due to traffic congestion on highways alone. By providing real-time updates and accurate traffic information, smart maps have the potential to save $1.6 billion in productive time and fuel, and 1 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions,” it added.

Smart maps can also sharpen emergency service responses, it said. “The average ambulance response time in India is 15 minutes, nearly twice the international standard,” the report stated.

By tying addresses to locations, smart maps can help eliminate the uncertainty about where callers are, reducing response time by up to 25 per cent.

Besides, smart maps can also route responders around road closures, traffic jams, and other obstacles.