Smart Fare Estimator

Inspiration

As a student who recently moved to a new city(Anantapur) for college(JNTUACEA), I experienced how confusing and stressful local travel can be. I didn’t know the local routes, typical fare rates, or how much was fair — which often led to getting overcharged by auto drivers. I realized that many others, including students, tourists, and new residents, face the same issue. This inspired me to create Smart Fare Estimator, a web app that brings transparency, fairness, and trust between drivers and passengers.

What it does

SmartFareEstimator is a web-based tool that helps users calculate fair auto-rickshaw fares based on: -Real-time pickup and drop locations -Live fuel prices based on the user's city -Optional vehicle mileage -Extra conditions like night rides or shared autos

How we built it

I developed Smart Fare Estimator using: Frontend: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, and vanilla JavaScript. Google Maps Platform APIs: -Maps JavaScript API for route display and real-time maps. -Places API for address autocomplete and location details. -Geocoding API for reverse geolocation. Backend (Python Flask): Hosted on Render.com. Fetches live fuel prices from a free API. Hosting: -Frontend hosted on Netlify. -Backend API hosted on Render.

The user inputs their pickup and drop locations, and optionally adds tip, ride type (shared/night), and vehicle mileage. The app fetches the fuel price based on the user’s city and calculates a fair estimated fare using the actual distance from Google Maps, fuel consumption, and additional adjustments.

Challenges we ran into

     Referer restrictions and API permission errors during Google Maps API setup.
     Hosting backend correctly with port binding on Render.
     Handling edge cases when fuel price API fails or returns incomplete data.
     Balancing fare calculation to be fair to both passengers and drivers.
     Keeping the UI responsive and intuitive for mobile and desktop users.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

     Successfully built and deployed a fully working fare estimation web app using Google Maps                Platform and live fuel data.
     -Designed a simple, clean, and mobile-friendly interface for all users, especially those unfamiliar with technology.
     -Integrated multiple APIs smoothly, including Geolocation, Geocoding, Places Autocomplete, and a custom fuel price backend.
     -Ensured that the fare calculation is fair for both drivers and passengers, even for short-distance rides. 
     -Did the entire project independently as a student, from idea to execution, with careful attention to real-world usability.

What we learned

  -How to integrate various Google Maps services into a real-time frontend.
  -Handling location-based APIs and user permissions effectively.
  -Working with backend APIs and deploying them using services like Render.
  -Importance of user experience, especially for non-technical users.
  -Managing data edge cases and fallback logic (e.g., missing city names or fuel API failure).
  -The power of clean UI/UX in solving real-life problems with simplicity.

What's next for Smart Fare Estimator

  -Add multi-language support to help travelers in various regions.
  -Add login and save fare history for repeat users
  -Auto-Rickshaw Booking Platform: Just like how Rapido made bike rides easy, Smart Fare Estimator aims to be a dedicated platform for auto-rickshaw bookings. Users can find nearby autos, check estimated fares, and book directly—ensuring convenience and trust.

Built With

• bootstrap5
• css3
• github
• google-maps
• html
• javascript
• netlify
• python(falsk)
• render