I also happened to meet a student from Sri Venkateshwara Engineering College, Chennai. I wondered how an engineering student, Arun, from Bangalore, can contribute something to the city. The presentation that he showed us was really remarkable! His idea is to collect all data, including roads, buildings etc, everything that would ease the life of a common man. How, if we already have google maps to provide us the data?

Arun explains: “Google can show you all the main streets in Chennai? But can you spot all the small streets, bus stops, auto stands on the map? This is what I am aiming to provide. Also, we cannot download google maps for free, while the map I am using is opensource. I have not started working much on Velachery side or your Chennai-1 office (where I am working). Even you can add your street data on the map. This is open to all. Arun giggles.”

Arun has drawn some important roads and some landmarks on the map. His goal is to create a map with full data and paste the maps on each bus stop, where the commuters can get an idea where he/she is right now and which route to take for reaching the destination.

He says, “If we have a map in our hand, we do not need to ask someone to explore the routes but just to follow the instructions on the map. I am surprised to see the old maps that our corporation and government organisations are using. How they are leading the nation with this old data?”

Arun has plans to design a website, which will provide you all the Chennai bus routes. The user has to provide ’source’ and ’destination’ places, the website will give you all the possible routes available. This has been already developed in Delhi Transport Corporation. But we should appreciate him, since he made this plan, even without knowing it is already in use by Delhi citizens. His initiative has been appreciated by some Post office Employees who are in urgent need of the updated city map.

Arun is an example who proves how a citizen can come forward to help the government.