After this Google Maps feature, you CANNOT commute without it! Android, iPhone users check this

India is among the initial four countries where Google Maps will be releasing its latest update. This Google Maps feature will allow users to see an estimated toll price that they might have to pay in their journey before even starting the trip. Apart from India, this feature is also being rolled out to Indonesia, Japan and the US. This feature will be available on both Android and iOS. It was first announced in April, but now Google is initiating its first batch of roll-outs. This Google Maps functionality can be very helpful to users who want to find a toll-free route or manage their expenses before setting out for the journey. Also read: Five Things Google AI Bot Wrote That Convinced Engineer It Was Sentient

Google revealed this new feature in a post on Tuesday. The post stated, “To help make the choice between toll roads and regular roads easier, we’re rolling out toll prices on Google Maps for the first time”. Explaining how it works, the post added, “You’ll see the estimated toll price to your destination before you start navigating thanks to trusted information from local tolling authorities. We look at factors like having a toll pass or not, what the day of the week it is, along with how much the toll is expected to cost at the specific time you’ll be crossing it”.

New Google Maps feature will make estimating toll prices easier in India

Toll prices are often a source of confusion for many regular travelers in India. Even with government provided information regarding the placement of various toll booths across the country, the details around the latest amount to pay, if the toll booth is weekly or daily or has different prices at different times is often hard to find. This Google Maps feature can solve this problem by offering a single-view information for the traveler to make an educated decision without needing to look through multiple websites. Further, Google intends to help users avoid toll roads by offering alternate routes without tolls, if possible. Also read: Use Google Maps offline! Know what you need to do

“You will have the option within settings to show toll prices with or without having a toll pass--as in many geographies the price changes based on the payment method you use. You will also still have the option to avoid routes crossing toll roads entirely, if possible, by selecting ‘Avoid tolls’ within settings,” the post mentioned.

In its initial roll-out, the map will cover more than 2,000 toll roads across the four countries. It should be noted that the feature displays the standard pass and since it is early days, some toll booths might not appear on Google Maps. For the time being, we recommend using this feature in an assisting role instead of relying on it entirely.