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Mumbai to soon have driverless pod taxis running between Bandra and Kurla
The Maharashtra government, on Tuesday, unveiled plans for a pod taxi service to streamline transportation to the Bandra-Kurla Complex, a prominent business hub. If reports are to go by, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) granted approval for the pod taxi service along the 8.8 km route connecting Bandra and Kurla railway stations, as announced by the Chief Minister's office.
These pods will be capable of accommodating six passengers each, whereas they will be operating at a speed of 40 km per hour and make a total of 38 stops along the designated route. The initiative will be executed through a public-private partnership, aiming to enhance commuting convenience between the two railway stations and BKC.
Reports further add that the pod taxi service will be covering more than 8 km between Bandra and Kurla railway stations. The project's design involves halts at 38 locations, and the overall execution will be a result of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Initially estimated at INR 50 crore per km in 2017, the current projected cost, reportedly, stands at INR 1,018 crores. The proposal also includes establishing a depot spanning 5,000 sq m within BKC, with additional details like ticket prices set to be determined soon.
The pod taxis, measuring 3.5 m in length, 1.47 m in width, and 1.8 m in height, will represent a novel public transport solution. Although already operational in a few other countries, the imminent introduction of the pod taxi service in Mumbai holds the potential to revolutionise local public transportation.
In a related development, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has endorsed the detailed project report for a INR 810-crore project in Sector 21, featuring 12 stations along a 12-km route connecting two major projects within the YEIDA area. Pod taxis, officially recognized as Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), signify a unique public transportation system using small, driverless vehicles designed for limited passengers or cargo.
These pods will be capable of accommodating six passengers each, whereas they will be operating at a speed of 40 km per hour and make a total of 38 stops along the designated route. The initiative will be executed through a public-private partnership, aiming to enhance commuting convenience between the two railway stations and BKC.
Reports further add that the pod taxi service will be covering more than 8 km between Bandra and Kurla railway stations. The project's design involves halts at 38 locations, and the overall execution will be a result of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Initially estimated at INR 50 crore per km in 2017, the current projected cost, reportedly, stands at INR 1,018 crores. The proposal also includes establishing a depot spanning 5,000 sq m within BKC, with additional details like ticket prices set to be determined soon.
The pod taxis, measuring 3.5 m in length, 1.47 m in width, and 1.8 m in height, will represent a novel public transport solution. Although already operational in a few other countries, the imminent introduction of the pod taxi service in Mumbai holds the potential to revolutionise local public transportation.
In a related development, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has endorsed the detailed project report for a INR 810-crore project in Sector 21, featuring 12 stations along a 12-km route connecting two major projects within the YEIDA area. Pod taxis, officially recognized as Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), signify a unique public transportation system using small, driverless vehicles designed for limited passengers or cargo.
Source: Times of India
