Zomato’s co-founder and CEO, Deepinder Goyal, announced on May 8 the launch of what he termed as India’s inaugural crowd-supported weather infrastructure. This initiative aims to deliver real-time updates on temperature, rainfall, and other weather-related parameters.
Known as Weatherunion.com, this project constitutes a proprietary network comprising over 650 on-ground weather stations, making it the largest private infrastructure of its kind in the nation. These stations are currently operational in 45 major cities and are slated for further expansion.
According to Goyal, these weather stations, developed by Zomato, furnish localized and up-to-the-minute information on essential weather metrics like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall. This data will be accessible to the public free of charge through an API.
In a post on the X platform, Goyal emphasized the altruistic intent behind this move, stating, “We believe that this data is too valuable to keep to ourselves or to monetize; therefore, as a Zomato Giveback, we are opening up access to this data to everyone for public good.”
He also highlighted the potential applications of real-time weather data in enhancing productivity and driving economic growth for various companies and institutions across the country.
Zomato developed this infrastructure to ensure access to accurate and real-time weather data, enabling informed business decisions. The collaboration with CAS-IIT Delhi facilitated the creation of this platform, and Zomato anticipates forging more partnerships in the future.
Additionally, Goyal extended an invitation to volunteers willing to host weather stations on their premises, underscoring the company’s commitment to nationwide participation in this initiative. He encouraged Zomato employees to contribute by hosting weather stations at their homes, thereby fostering a collaborative approach to nation-building.
