Pod Taxis to Change the Face of Public Transport in India

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) or Pod Taxi System, the futuristic driverless autonomous vehicles that could change the face of public transport in the country, may soon start between Delhi’s Rajeev Chowk and Gurugram, a 12.3 km stretch. It will be a major step towards easing congestion on busy Dhaula Kuan-Manesar stretch and revolutionising transportation. PRT is an advanced public transport using automated electric pod cars to provide a taxi-like demand responsive feeder and shuttle services for small groups of travellers and is a green mode of uninterrupted journey. Pod taxis will adhere to the Automated People Mover (APM) standards, the American standards of safety laid down by the American Society of Civil Engineers and these constitute the minimum requirements for an acceptable level of safety and performance for the PRT. APM standards include minimum requirements for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the various sub-systems.

• Pod Taxis will have arrival audio and visual warning, platform sloping, evacuation system for broke-down vehicles, CCTV surveillance, audio communication, emergency call points and fire protection, among other advanced systems.
• Model is in place in London’s Heathrow airport, Morgantown and Masdar city.
• Pilot project meant for Delhi-Haryana border on NH 8 will be taken up on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
• Projected cost is ₹4,000-crore.
• Pods are fully automatic, driverless and travel independently over an overhead network usually about 5-10 meters above the ground.
• Pods are equipped with wireless military grade technology and sensors monitored at a command base and on the ground for extra security and safety
• Pods can be used by a small group of commuters
• Pods are network are not affected by adverse weather conditions
• Pod network saves fuel, cost of transportation and pollution

This is a dream project of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and the National Highways Authority of India has been mandated to execute it. This initiative is an effort to streamline public transport to be more efficient and cost effective. Six states in India are in talks to build PRTs to operate futuristic driverless pod taxis. Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar may soon see this technology in action. Rajasthan may see a 4.7 km pod taxi route between Ajmer railway station and Ajmer Dargah. Maharashtra’s taxi-link will be in Bandra Kurla Complex.

In addition to the above the municipal corporation of the city of Bengaluru is also looking at the option of employing a PRT (Pod Taxis), to solve most of the traffic woes in the IT capital of India and cater to last-mile connectivity. This mode of public transport will provide personal, on demand, and origin to destination travel throughout a network of dedicated guide ways.