Introduction:
Get ready, Local Guides, because it’s time for our sixth thrilling chapter in the “Spotlight on Local Guide” series! This month, we’re heading to the beautiful coastal city of Visakhapatnam, India, to celebrate a Top 100 Local Guide who has literally paved the way for millions of navigators around the globe. He’s not just a contributor; he’s a true cartography superhero!
Please welcome the incredible Prasad, a Local Guide who has turned his twin passions—troubleshooting electrical systems by day and fixing road maps by night—into a massive force for good. Prasad isn’t chasing photo views; he’s dedicated to quality over quantity, emphasizing that the most crucial work is often done by adding new roads and cleaning up old data. Get ready to be inspired by a guide who has added over 36,000 new roads and earned the prestigious Road Mapping Champion badge from Google. Let’s zoom in on this road warrior and discover what drives his passion!
The Interview:
1 - Where on Earth (country/state/city) do you call home?
“I call Visakhapatnam home! It’s a fast-growing, lively city by the sea in Andhra Prades, India. It’s famous for its beautiful beaches, green hills, vibrant industries, and rich history—plus, it’s the headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command. It’s the perfect mix of old charm and modern hustle.”
2. What do you do when you’re not rocking the Local Guides world?
“When I’m not mapping roads, I’m designing and improving electrical systems for various industrial projects. I’m essentially a professional problem-solver—I love troubleshooting, diving into complex issues, and constantly learning new things at work.”
3. How and when did you dive into the Local Guides adventure?
“I actually submitted my first edit way back in January 2014, but I truly started my Local Guides adventure in earnest in November 2016. Once you realize the power you have to make a difference on the map, you’re hooked!”
Caption: A screenshot of Prasad’s first Maps edit Petrol Bunk, Visakhapatnam, India
Caption: Prasad’s first photo contributed to Maps November, 2016, a storefront of a Jewellery Shop ‘Jos alukkas’, Visakhapatanam, India
4. What gets you fired up about being a Local Guide?
“It’s a win-win! I’m genuinely happy knowing my contributions are helping countless people every day, and at the same time, I constantly use and benefit from Google Maps myself. It’s all about giving back to the system that gives me so much.”
5. What epic message would you love to share with your fellow Local Guides?
“Let’s focus on quality over quantity! New content is great, but improving what’s already there—and even removing wrong or harmful information—is equally vital. Every correct edit makes Google Maps more reliable for everyone. I also strongly encourage everyone to check out the Top 100 System and @SholaIB’s TRAC campaign—the road mapping challenge. They offer amazing motivation, teamwork, and the satisfaction of knowing the roads you map might help someone travel safely or even reach an important destination in an emergency. Get inspired and share your successes on Connect!”
6. What’s your absolute favorite type of contribution and why does it rock?
“Hands down, it’s adding new roads! Millions of kilometers of roads are still unmapped globally, and I love closing those gaps. So far, I’ve mapped over 36,658 new roads and covered around 4,455 km! It’s an amazing feeling knowing that I’ve directly improved navigation for thousands. My work with the TRAC campaign has been instrumental—I’ve loved sharing step-by-step guides, leading the SEEKERS team, and it all culminated in being one of the first three Local Guides to receive the Road Mapping Champion badge from Google! Getting to share my TRAC experience at Connect Live 2025 in Bangalore was truly the proudest moment for our whole team.”
7. Which is your favourite all time contribution and why do you like it?
“While it’s amazing that my contributions have racked up over 140 million views—with my media alone seen more than 34 million times—what I value most is that figure of 36,658 new roads added. Each road makes navigation easier and more reliable. That tangible impact gives me the deepest satisfaction and keeps my motivation high. I’ve also added over 1,150 new places and answered 44,500+ questions, all contributing to a more accurate map.”
8. Spill the beans! What gear do you use to create your amazing media contributions?
“I keep it simple! I just use my iPhone to take photos and videos. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need fancy gear to share what you see and make an impact.”
9. What do you like most about the Local Guides Community, Connect?
“I absolutely love the supportive atmosphere on Connect. The genuine appreciation from Google, the motivation, and the willingness of everyone to share knowledge is fantastic. Participating in challenges (I’m a Ten-time Connect Challenge Winner!) and engaging in the Top 100 System discussions keeps me sharp and motivated to constantly improve.”
10. Which particular Top 100 Local Guides Leaderboard do you like most and why?
“I’m a big fan of the Movers and Shakers Leaderboards because they give you a real-time view of who’s achieving big things right now. And honestly, the whole Top 100 System is brilliant; features like VIP checks, Stats summary, and Vitals offer invaluable insights for anyone serious about benchmarking their contributions.”
11. Are there any new Leaderboards or features that you’d like to see?
“I would love to see Review Views and Roads Leaderboards added! That said, Connect Moderator @AdamGT is doing an incredible job. He’s always working hard to improve the system and make it more interesting and engaging for all of us—he often anticipates our needs before we even think of them!”
12. What is your favorite holiday destination and what do you like about it?
“I don’t have just one favorite—I love exploring different parts of India with my family. This country is so vast and beautiful, with so much diverse culture and beauty to discover.”
Caption: Photo of Prasad at Jantar Mantar, historical astronomical observatories, Ne delhi, India
Caption: Photo of Prasad at Rastrapathi Bhavan (The Presidential Palace), , New Delhi, India
13. What destination in the world would you just love to one day visit?
“My primary travel goal is actually to fully explore my own country, India. It’s a huge land of rich and varied culture, where people and customs change dramatically from one region to the next. Beyond that, I do hope to visit Italy one day to immerse myself in its amazing history, culture, and natural beauty.”
14. What’s a super fun fact about you that might surprise us?
“I generally like to keep things simple and quiet, so no major surprises here! But I do enjoy the simple pleasures: watching movies, getting lost in a good book, traveling, and sharing my thoughts across Connect and social media.”
Wrapping up:
What an incredible and inspiring journey into the world of Prasad! His story is a powerful reminder that the most impactful contributions often come from dedicating yourself to a niche—in his case, literally building the infrastructure of Google Maps one road at a time. From troubleshooting electrical systems to becoming a certified Road Mapping Champion, Prasad’s commitment to quality and his community is truly exceptional. We hope you found his dedication as motivating as we did!
And with that, we’re wrapping up another unforgettable “Spotlight on Local Guide” feature! As we continue to celebrate the diverse talents across our community, we’re already buzzing with excitement about who we’ll feature next. Which amazing Top 100 Local Guide will step into the limelight and share their unique journey in our next edition? You’ll just have to keep your eyes peeled for our next post to find out! Until then, keep exploring, keep contributing, and keep being the amazing Local Guides you are!
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is truly remarkable. A perfect example of quality contributions……
