Indian ONDC and Google Maps add metro ticket booking

Google Maps will soon let Indian users book metro tickets directly through the app as it expands its partnership with the country’s open e-commerce network.

After partnering with Open Network for Digital Commerce, Google announced at the Google for India event on Thursday that Maps users can book metro tickets.

Google Cloud India managing director Bikram Singh Bedi said at the event that buyer apps integrated into the open network will deliver the experience in metro cities in the coming months.

Google and ONDC launched an accelerator program for open network sellers this year. The move included open-sourcing and preparing ONDC infrastructure and core APIs and a $25,000 grant for eligible network organizations.

Google then held an India-wide hackathon for startups and developers building digital commerce solutions and made Google Cloud’s generative AI tools available to open network buyers and sellers.

“As always, partnerships are at the heart of this entire effort while we as Google will play our part, but as all of you know, acknowledging is only an enabler for the real and tactile aspects of our life,” said Google India country head and vice president Sanjay Gupta. We will work closely with the government, financial ecosystem, startups, public health infrastructure, law enforcement, and others to make this happen.

WhatsApp now lets Bengaluru and Delhi users book metro tickets. Through partnerships with city metro train corporations, the Meta-own app provides ticket booking and payment support end-to-end.

Google announced new lending options for Google Pay users and merchants and generative AI updates at the annual event. The Android maker also announced plans to manufacture Pixel phones in the country, starting with the Pixel 8 series.