India's first Pod Taxis soon in Gurgaon | Infra Bazaar

New Delhi: With increasing urban congestion, travelling to work has become a hassle in cities. But if reports have to be believed it is going to a thing from the past. In coming days there would be elevated driverless pods.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has laid the preparation to reveal India's first Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) network and will welcome worldwide offers for the task within a fortnight. The pilot project will traverse a 13km stretch from the Gurgaon-Delhi border to Badshapur Mod on Sohna Road and is assessed to cost Rs 850 crore.

A venture called the Metrino-a PRT framework in which units are suspended from an overhead rail - has been under discussion since quite some time. Each unit can take up to five travelers. For the pilot venture, 16 stations have been arranged, beginning from Ambience Mall. A personal rapid transit (PRT) network is made up of small automated vehicles running at close intervals on a path way with docking at stations for passengers to get on and get off. While a pod can accommodate up to five people, there is also an option to hire an entire pod that will take a passenger straight to the destination, skipping the scheduled stops. The average speed of the pod unit is 60kmph.

A senior NHAI official said the system would be worked within a year if the agreements are being honored. "Unit taxi frameworks are most appropriate for this. We are keeping our alternatives open, however, so that private players can think of best framework, including sky-rail," the authority said. A sky-rail is additionally within the PRT framework is more like a ropeway.

The NHAI Official said area required for the venture is as of now accessible with it and with Haryana Government. The project does not need forest and environmental clearance. As far as financing is concerned entire investment will be made by the private companies that set up under the PRT. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will recover its investment in 25 years through tickets.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had declared a year ago that Metrinos will keep running between Dhaula Kuan in Delhi and Manesar. The overhead system for Metrinos has been arranged along the turnpike. PM Shri. Narendra Modi had gone in a Pod Taxi in Masdar City amidst his last visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The Punjab and Haryana Governments had, before reported a rollout of unit taxis in Amritsar and Gurgaon, yet these never worked out as intended.

As indicated by appraisals arranged by the NHAI, while building a kilometer of Metro expenses in any event Rs 250 crore and of monorail Rs 200 crore, the Metrino framework can be worked with just Rs 70 crore. It's lighter also.

"The NHAI will reveal the venture soon. We have set an objective of a year. Along these lines, we could extend this to Dhaula Kuan and Manesar on every side," said the NHAI official.

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