For those of you who don’t know what POD taxis are, grab this piece of information because Gurgaon is going to run into future, with it, really really soon. Yes the POD taxis in Gurgaon are making their way. Wikipedia defines POD taxis as : Personal rapid transit (PRT), also referred to as podcars, is a public transport mode featuring small automated vehicles operating on a network of specially built guideways. PRT is a type of automated guideway transit (AGT), a class of system which also includes larger vehicles all the way to small subway systems. Pod taxis, a result of a project called the Metrino-a PRT system in which pods are suspended from an overhead rail-has been under consideration for a while and will finally debut in Gurgaon.
POD taxis are ideal for congested areas and places where metro and mono rails cannot reach. They are a cheaper mode of transportation, comparatively. While the Metro costs Rs. 300 crore per kilometer and Monorail costs Rs. 170 crore for a kilometer, pod taxi network can be built for just Rs. 30 crore per kilometre. They are a welcome break from an overburdened transport system. Each POD taxi can take up to 5 passengers. For the pilot project route, 16 stations have been planned, starting near Ambience Mall.
A personal rapid transit (PRT) network is made up of small automated vehicles running at close intervals on a guide way with docking stations for passengers to get on and get off. According to the presentation made to the city government, the pod taxi system can be commissioned in a limited place with poles of 40 cm diameter and an elevated track of 1.6 meter width. 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 pods is 60 km per hour. The pilot project will span a 13 km stretch from the Gurgaon-Delhi border to Badshapur Mod on Sohna Road and is estimated to cost Rs 850 crore. The entire financing will be done by the private company that will set the PRT. The best thing about this project is that it does not need forest and environmental clearance. Harayana government already has the land required for the project.
The officials are pretty confident about finishing this entire project within a year. Air pollution is a major ill-effect of modern means of transport. Most of our cities have heavy traffic. The smoke emitted from these vehicles is harmful to the health of people as well as the environment. These vehicles also cause noise pollution which is also harmful to the health of the people. The best thing about POD taxis is that they cause minimal pollution. We all are waiting eagerly for the much-needed modernization.
