MMRDA says 100 piling works complete on Mumbai pod taxi corridor

MMRDA says more than 100 piling works have been completed for Mumbai’s proposed 8.85-km pod taxi corridor linking Kurla, Bandra and the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

The elevated Automated Rapid Transit System is being built through a public-private partnership. MMRDA says the arrangement will not place the project cost on the state government or the authority and is expected to generate revenue.

The first phase is planned to run 3.36 km between Kurla and Bandra, with eight stations. The complete corridor is planned to have 22 air-conditioned stations and serve as a first- and last-mile connection between Kurla and Bandra railway stations, BKC and the metro network.

The project is planned to interchange with Metro Line 3 at BKC and Metro Line 2B at ITO and IL&FS stations. Battery-powered pods, each carrying up to six passengers, are proposed to run on a dedicated elevated guideway at speeds of up to 40 kmph and at 15-second intervals. Passengers would select their destination, allowing pods to skip intermediate stops.

MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee has described pod taxis as an additional mobility option for selected corridors. The system is projected to carry about 1.09 lakh passengers a day by 2031, with a proposed fare of ₹21 per km at 2022 rates.