The Noida International Airport in Jewar and the Film City will be connected by India's first Pod Taxi, also known as the ‘Personalised Rapid Transit’.
The Yamuna Authority has reportedly approved the updated DPR and Bid document for the project, according to a report. Once the project receives government nod, construction work will begin. The tendering procedure is expected to start soon
Electric vehicles with driverless technology are called Pod Taxis. They are compact, automated vehicles used to move a limited number of people quickly from one location to another
These automated cars operate on a network of specially built guideways. Since they do not interfere with the road traffic, they ensure non-stop point-to-point travel, and are pollution-free vehicles
This transit system currently exists in Dubai, Singapore, and London's Heathrow Airport among other locations. Uttar Pradesh will be the first Indian state to get this transport model
The destinations where Pod Taxis are operational and included in analysis are Morgantown in US, Heathrow Airport in London, Masdar City in UAE, Suncheon in South Korea and Tianfu Airport in China, a YEIDA official said
The project will reportedly be developed as a Public Private Partnership model. The track of the Pod Taxi will be at a height of 100 metres above the road passing through sectors
The Pod Taxis will reportedly connect Noida’s Jewar airport to Film City in Sector 21. As per early estimates, around 37,000 passengers will be able to commute on a daily basis in Pod Taxis. There will be 12 stations on the 14.6 km route
Reports suggest Pod Taxi route will be an entirely elevated corridor that will start from Jewar Airport and pass through Handicraft Park, Apparel Park, MSME Park, Sector 32, and then culminate at Film City]
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 810 crore. The Pod Taxi project, after getting final approval from the government, will likely be completed by the end of 2024
According to YEIDA, hi-tech Pod Taxis are cost-effective, environment-friendly and convenient. In March 2021, YEIDA had roped in Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited to prepare a DPR of project