(Image source from: India.com)
Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Monday that pod taxi services will be launched in Mumbai to help with last-mile transport and lessen the burden on current transit options. Fadnavis mentioned that this service will be essential in the commercial area between Kurla and Bandra train stations, which will experience increased passenger traffic due to the new bullet train station and the upcoming Mumbai High Court building. The Bandra-Kurla Complex station will be the only underground stop on the 508-kilometer Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed train route and will include six platforms. A big new High Court building with 75 courtrooms is being constructed on 30 acres in Bandra East to alleviate the overcrowding at the current Fort building. “Mumbai is setting up a single-card system for all transport types. Pod taxis should also be included in this system," PTI reported him as stating. The Chief Minister instructed officials to begin developing the areas around the Kurla and Bandra stations along with the project and to link the buildings in the Bandra-Kurla Complex with the stations via pod taxi routes.
A pod taxi is a type of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system where fully automatic, driverless, electric vehicles travel on raised tracks to carry a small number of passengers. They operate similarly to a regular taxi but work without a driver and generally cover short to medium distances within cities, airports, or campuses. They are completely automated, with no human driver present. Users can summon a pod whenever they need it, similar to calling a taxi. Each pod usually accommodates 2 to 6 people. They travel on dedicated tracks, whether elevated or at ground level, helping to prevent traffic jams. Being electric, they are energy-efficient. They use technology like sensors, GPS, and computer systems to ensure safe transit.
By using separate tracks, they do not contribute to traffic on the roads. A lot of traffic jams happen because of short trips made in private cars or taxis. Pod taxis can take over these short trips, particularly in busy places like business districts, tourist spots, university campuses, and airport terminals. If pod taxi services are convenient and affordable, more individuals may choose to leave their cars behind. While they help reduce traffic congestion, provide faster travel directly to destinations, and are better for the environment, pod taxis also require significant investment for infrastructure such as tracks and stations. They are not ideal for transporting large numbers of people like buses or metros and need specific spaces that may be difficult to find in Mumbai.
Masdar City in the UAE is one of the first places to implement PRT systems. At Heathrow Airport in the UK, the ULTra PRT system is used for moving passengers between terminals and parking areas. A pod taxi initiative has also been suggested in Amritsar for urban transportation near the Golden Temple. Several pilot programs have been explored in Gurugram.
