After Metro Rail, Radio Taxis, and Women Special Autos, its turn for this millennium city to be blessed with Pod Taxis. The news about introducing Pod Taxis was announced by Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, during a press release.
Although Gurgaon is regarded as an international city and boasts of large corporate and MNCs, the infrastructure is majorly lacking as far as public transport and other modern facilities are concerned. A few years back Gurgaon had no signs of public transport except rickshaws and shared autos. In case one is looking for personalized transport system or a decent public transport, they have no choice.
According to the Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Pod Taxis are going to solve most of the traffic woes of Gurgaon. The task of developing and implementing the plan has been entrusted with a Gurgaon based firm called, Fairwood. Fairwood, is drawing the blueprint of the plan in partnership with the UK based firm PRT Limited.
What are Pod Taxis?
For most of us, Pod Taxi is a new term. Well Pod taxis are a futuristic mode of public transport that runs on elevated tracks. These are driverless modes of transport that use laser technology for driving directions and they are powered by battery. It is a personal rapid transport system that generally accommodates 4-5 persons at a time. The person just has to log details about the destination to be travelled and press the start button in order to start the journey.
The concept was designed by Martin Lowson, a space travel specialist. Heathrow airport in London was the first to use Pod Taxis and it’s still new to the rest of the world.
In India, Gurgaon will be the first city to get Pod Taxis, which actually suit the pot holed roads of Gurgaon. Since these taxis run on elevated tracks the passengers will be saved from a bone-breaking road journey of Gurgaon.
Chances are high that Gurgaon will get its first set of Pod Taxis by November 2011. A budget of Rs 5,000 crore has already been allocated by the Haryana Government for this project which is going to be a public-private partnership.
The only problem with these ultra modern bubbled shaped taxis is that they might not be suitable for travel by common people who might face difficulty in handling touchscreen and other mechanisms inside the vehicle. Whatsoever, but Pod Taxis is actually going to render a makeover to Gurgaon transport scenario.
Robin Roy, Gurgaon
5 responses so far
1 Sanjaya Varma ~ Jan 19, 2011 at 3:36 am
The Indian company is FAIRWOOD and their jt. venture partner is ULTraprt Ltd. from UK. The fare structure will be affordable and intention is to keep this between Bus and auto rickshaw fares : this is an affordable, safe & convenient eco friendly “green” public transport system ideally suited to contribute towards reducing traffic congestion on the ground as it is on an elevated guideway system.
2 Vaishali ~ Mar 12, 2011 at 9:14 am
I wonder how the safety and security of travelers/ women be assured.
3 dheeraj chauhan ~ Mar 20, 2011 at 1:54 am
kuch kerna dharna hai nhi ,,bas plan banate hai,kabhi double dacor bus ka,kabhi mono rair ka, kabhi ac bus stand ka
4 dheeraj chauhan ~ Mar 20, 2011 at 1:56 am
bas survay karke paisa idhar udhar ,karna kuch nhi
5 anivesh ~ Apr 18, 2011 at 10:59 pm
someone please pay a visit to gurgaon bus stand and look at its condition. even my native town’s bus stand is better than millenium city’s pathetic stand
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