Google Maps has launched its street view service across 10 cities in India in partnership with two local companies, the firm said on Wednesday.
The government had previously not allowed showing of panoramic images of roads and other sites for security reasons.
In a statement, Google said Street View is being launched in partnership with Genesys International and Tech Mahindra.
"Starting today, Street View will be available on Google Maps with fresh imagery licensed from local partners covering over 1,50,000 km across ten cities in India, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nashik, Vadodara, Ahmednagar, and Amritsar," it said.
Google, Genesys International, and Tech Mahindra plan to expand this to more than 50 cities by the end of 2022.
This India launch marks the first time in the world that Street View is being brought to life completely by local partners.
Also, Google Maps will now show speed limits data shared by the traffic authorities, starting with Bengaluru.
Google also announced its partnership with Bengaluru traffic police as part of its efforts towards delivering models that better optimise traffic light timings.
"This is helping the local traffic authority manage road congestion at key intersections, and will eventually scale across the city," the statement said, adding, "Google will further expand this to Kolkata and Hyderabad in partnership with local traffic authorities." Speaking of the announcements, Miriam Karthika Daniel, VP - Google Maps Experiences, said the launch of Street View in India will be instrumental in delivering a more helpful user experience, from virtually visiting locations to getting a better sense of local businesses and establishments.