New Delhi:
Delhi may soon have a pod car system on the lines of those in many western cities under which battery operated automated pods, having a capacity to carry up to six passengers, will offer transportation from point to point.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, after witnessing a presentation, asked Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS) and Transport Department to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on introduction of the pollution free transport system in the city.
Pod car system is a public transportation mode featuring small automated vehicles operating on a network of specially-built tracks. In pod car system, vehicles are sized for individual or small group travel, typically carrying no more than six passengers per vehicle.
After the presentation, Dikshit said her government is keen to take it up as a pilot project in areas such as Dwarka, Karol Bagh, East Delhi and Delhi University North Campus.
"It will definitely supplement the existing modes of public transport and will come up as an alternative to the personal vehicles," Dikshit said.
Transport department officials said the new system may be termed as a personal rapid transit.
The private company, which gave the presentation on the project, has offered to commission it with its own resources.
"Further it will be economically viable as far as the commuters are concerned. The average fare of the pod will come to be around Rs 6 per km," said the official.