Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced that pod taxi services will soon be introduced in Mumbai to improve last-mile connectivity and reduce the burden on the city`s existing public transport infrastructure, news agency PTI reported.
During a high-level meeting on the project, the CM highlighted that the service would play a vital role in easing congestion in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) corridor, which is expected to witness a sharp rise in commuter traffic with the development of a bullet train terminal and the new Mumbai High Court building in the vicinity.
Fadnavis emphasised the need to integrate pod taxis with Mumbai’s upcoming unified smart card system for seamless travel across all transport modes. He also directed officials to develop the Kurla and Bandra station areas in tandem with the project and to ensure direct connectivity between BKC buildings and railway stations through dedicated pod taxi routes.
A pod taxi is part of the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) mechanism in which fully automated, driverless, electric vehicles run on elevated tracks to transport a small number of persons.
All metro phases to open for public by end of 2026, says Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all phases of the metro project will be open for passengers by the end of 2026.
His statement came after the successful trial run of the much-awaited Metro Lines-4 and 4A on Monday.
The lines connect Wadala in Mumbai to Gaimukh in Thane.
Meanwhile, an official statement issued by Deputy CM Eknatn Shinde`s office said that the trial run and technical inspection of the priority section, from Gaimukh Junction to Vijay Garden Station, was flagged off by CM Fadnavis in Thane. The inspection covered viaducts, tracks, and overhead equipment.
Shinde, who is also the chairman of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), said the 58-kilometre-long elevated metro corridor will play a key role in reducing traffic congestion in Thane and nearby areas.
“Once complete, this will be the longest metro corridor in India, connecting the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai with Thane. Over 13 lakh people are expected to travel daily on these routes,” CM Fadnavis said.
(With PTI inputs)
