India is all set to get its first pod taxi. Also known as personalised rapid transit (PRT), the pod taxis will soon be connecting the upcoming Jewar airport to the proposed Film City in Noida, making Uttar Pradesh the first Indian state to experience the revolutionary transport system.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Index, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has already given the go-ahead to the nation’s first international transit system project’s revised DPR (Detailed Project Report) and bid document. Following the approval, the construction, as well as the tender process, will kickstart shortly.
Greater Noida
Yamuna Authority has approved India’s FIRST Pod Taxi project’s revised DPR & Bid document
Construction work will start once the project is approved by the state government:
Estimated cost ~ Rs 810 Cr
Proposed route ~ Film City to Jewar Airport
Capacity ~ 37k… pic.twitter.com/sBc58MN00s— The Uttar Pradesh Index (@theupindex) May 6, 2023
Pod taxis: Routes and other details
As per media reports, the PRT system will have the following features:
- India’s first pod taxi will be a swift, automated, and eco-friendly mode of transport, making it one of the most progressive forms of transit of the generation.
- These taxis are designed in a way that they can transport only four to six passengers from one place to another.
- These cars operate above highways and regular roads with the sole motive of travelling quickly in congested areas.
- Powered by electricity, the cars will run on a network of elevated rails known as dedicated guideways.
- The service will cover a distance of 14.6 km, travelling through Handicraft Park, Apparel Park, MSME Park in Sector 29, industrial units in Sector 32, Toy Park in Sector 33, and finally ending the journey at Film City in Sector 21.
- With a sum of 12 stations along the route, the entire travel time will be nearly 20 mins.
- A total of 690 pods will be introduced in phases, and the first phase will comprise 101 pods. Nearly 37,000 passengers will be able to travel on a daily basis.
And, with an estimated expenditure of INR 810 crores, the concession duration of the pod taxi project is going to be 35 years, including two years for the construction period, the reports added. The concession duration is the time needed to recover the invested cost. The project is slated to be completed by the end of 2024.
Internationally, countries are adopting this high-end technology, and a few countries already have a successful chain of pod taxis operating in their cities. There’s Morgantown in West Virginia, Masdar City in UAE, Suncheon City in South Korea, and London Heathrow Airport.
Hero and Feature Image Credit: The Uttar Pradesh Index/Twitter
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Answer: A pod taxi, also known as personal rapid transit (PRT), is an automated and eco-friendly mode of transportation that are built above highways and busy roads. These taxis accommodate four to six passengers and have the potential of getting fuelled by solar power and other renewable power sources.
Answer: Uttar Pradesh is about to be the first Indian state to welcome pod taxis, which will be connecting Jewar's Noida International Airport to the proposed film city.