Hello,
This is an request to add “Square” as a category of locations in Indian Maps.
Because, a “Square” (where 2 roads cross) is an important identification mark for locations in India. If a square is added to the category of locations, then it can achieve a few things:
- Ease of location access to users ( time saving in reaching destination)
- Additional and correct data for Google Maps.
- Ease of navigation while driving when taking turns at the squares.
The reason for this request is also because a lot of squares in India are marked under incorrect category of “Historical Landmarks” without having historical significance. I have already sent a request for this through “Send feedback” on Google Maps, but wanted to share this with local guides community.
6 Likes
Hi @MandarKul
This has been proposed repeatedly to no avail. I believe the problem is that a system based on street names with the houses numbered for each street is the universal system applied almost everywhere. Adding complexity or more layers to this is not helpful.
I know how landmarks are often used in India to explain addresses or even included in addresses. This makes them longer and more prone to errors.
The way Google Maps today can help people navigate to places is way more advanced and precise compared to reverting back to using landmarks.
And in places where proper street names and house numbers are missing Google provide Plus codes to use instead.
Learn more about plus codes here
https://maps.google.com/pluscodes/
Plus codes are super short, unambiguous and unique and way more precise than using landmarks.
Cheers
Morten
Thank you for your insightful comments @MortenCopenhagen
I would like to disagree on some points if you agree to.
- “Adding complexity or more layers” - Adding a category does not add complexity.
The OP is clearly asking for a new category, not a new feature to Google Maps.
- “longer addresses are more prone to errors” - I disagree. They add clarity, in fact.
Otherwise, we could use just the plus code for a place and that should be enough - right?
@TusharSuradkar and @MandarKul
I find this random address
KALUBAI CHOWK, Solapur Rd, Near FATIMA NAGAR JUNCTION, Opposite CROMA, Wanowrie, Pune, Maharashtra 411022, India
more complex than
Blåmunkene 20, 3100 Hornbæk, Denmark.
I meant addresses get unnecessarily complex and error prone when landmarks like squares are added.
We don’t need to agree. I’m just trying to explain why Google so far has not added squares to the list of categories available to us. The category does exist and is available to Google staff only on the base layer.
Cheers
Morten
1 Like
For you, it may seem complex @MortenCopenhagen
For the billions of Indians, including me, this is very helpful.
I can reach this place using just this information - more the merrier 
Please don’t insist on having everything the Danish way, it won’t work outside Denmark.
Hello @MortenCopenhagen , I think my request was miscommunicated.
What I want to propose by the new category for a square is to identify the square itself. It doesn’t need to be used in identifying other places near that square.
For example, if I am trying to meet my friend at Kalubai Chowk (from your example) then getting a search object of Kalubai Chowk is enough for me.
Another thing I found out is that some squares in India are put under a category “Intersection Group” on Google Maps. Can it not be made available to users/editors for the squares which are not listed under the same?
I agree that plus codes are great way to know exact location of a place but many places in India do not have the plus codes. Since the roads in that area are not mapped to their official names on Google Maps. To give an example a square named Income Tax Chowk, Akola currently has a long address P225+37M, Bhandaraj BK, Akola, Maharashtra 444002. This address does not include the road name or anything related to it. It could definitely benefit to have it under the category of “Intersection Group” instead of the current category “Book Store” 
1 Like
I’m not insisting on anything, @TusharSuradkar .
If you think short and unambiguous addresses is a Danish thing, please think again. The world is quite a bit bigger than India and Denmark
@MandarKul
I would like to understand your concern about long plus codes.
Here is another example
is Akola the city name?
I think this could not be much shorter.
In your example is
P225+37M, Bhandaraj BK, Akola, Maharashtra 444002, India
Is that a plus code address.
In most plus codes I have seen the post/zip code 444002 is not included. Would you be able to find this place without using Google Maps?
I trust Chowk means square. So somebody added a square using the category book store? Does it make sense to you? Is it helpful to Maps users?
Cheers
Morten
The world is much bigger @MortenCopenhagen but India alone is as big as the rest of the world when it comes to Google Maps.
1.45 billion Indians and several million businesses and other places have an address on Google Maps.
So, my point is Google Maps should add features that the users are more familiar with - Chowks and longer addresses.
With shorter addresses, it takes more time to locate a place in India.
Not all streets, or businesses, or homes have a number written on them.
There are plenty of people everywhere to help you when you hop from one landmark to another - all while using Google Maps for directions
With landmarks, people can reach a place faster and more accurately - in India.
Other things that you mentioned. I did not understand those clearly.
About the examples, and bookstores, etc.
Hi, my concern about plus code is that it is not available for all locations. Unlike most of the places on maps (shops, banks, hotels, etc.) some places do not have their own plus codes.
For example if you see the “About” section of “Akola Bus Stand”, then it does not have its own Plus Code. (Akola is the name of the city)
As you correctly said, a chowk is a square. Let’s say for another chowk in Akola named “Sant Tukaram Chowk”, I can see “Intersection Group” as the category name for it.
Can it be made available for other squares in the city like the “Income Tax Chowk” (the one I mentioned in previous reply).
If this category is made available for local guides then they can correct the category of those squares to “Intersection Group” or a universal synonym word for “square”.
I hope this clears all the miscommunication happened.
