The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has appointed Hyderabad-based Sai Green Mobility as the concessionaire for the Automated Rapid Transit System (pod taxi) in Bandra Kurla Complex.
The pod taxi system, inspired by the one in place at London’s Heathrow Airport, is set to alleviate commuting challenges in the busy business hub of Mumbai.
MMRDA had previously received bids from two companies, Chennai-based Refex Industries and Sai Green Mobility, for the execution and operation of the project.
Sai Green Mobility will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, from design and engineering to construction, operation, and maintenance.
The project will be executed on a design, finance, build, operate, and transfer (DFBOT) basis, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,016.34 crore and a concession period of 30 years. The pod taxi system is expected to be fully operational within three years.
Once launched, the pod taxi system will serve approximately 600,000 daily commuters traveling to and from BKC. Operating every 15-30 seconds, the service will connect Bandra and Kurla suburban stations, the BKC metro station, and the upcoming bullet train station. The 8.8-kilometre route will feature 38 stops.
The pods will measure 3.5 metres in length, 1.47 metres in width, and 1.8 metres in height, with a maximum speed of 40 km per hour and a capacity of around six passengers per pod.
The pod taxi project has undergone peer review by Tata Consulting Engineers, confirming its suitability for the area’s topography and projected traffic growth.
“The pod taxi project will not only improve last-mile connectivity but also reduce congestion and provide a modern, efficient mode of transportation for daily commuters,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA, reports Business Standard.
Despite the introduction of public buses, commuting to BKC remains challenging due to the imbalance between demand and supply.
The proposed fare for the pod taxis is Rs 21 per kilometre, with an annual increase of 4 per cent. MMRDA will finalise the fare during the project’s conditions precedent phase. Currently, commuters pay up to Rs 40 per seat in shared autos to travel between BKC and Bandra or Kurla.