Bengaluru: Po poda traffic, here come the pods, metro back-up

Bengaluru: Want to beat the traffic and get to your destination in the blink of an eye? POD or Personal Rapid Transit system could be the solution. That too at a price cheaper than even an autorickshaw!

The BBMP’s technical team has already finalised the documents and Expression of Interest (EoI). Tenders will be floated shortly inviting companies to provide POD at different locations of the city, BBMP commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad told Deccan Chronicle.

Mr. Prasad said that one of the routes the BBMP has long been interested to   execute  the project is Indiranagar to Whitefield. There are absolutely no financial implications involved for the BBMP, he said, adding that the interested company will invest on a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) basis for 20 odd years.

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POD is an electric car like or cable car unit, that  can carry about 8 persons at a time. Multiple units can carry people at high speed. The BBMP will provide the medians for the short-listed company to erect the pillars and have stations at different locations to provide access and exit points to commuters. Only minimum land is required for stations, explained Mr. Prasad. “I have seen this facility working excellently in many foreign countries. It’s a boon to beat traffic congestion. It will be good for citizens of Bengaluru to have such a cheap and fast transport system. About 15,000 people can be carried per hour, which is an excellent number,” added Mr. Prasad.

Already, six routes have been identified and most of the routes are connected to the Metro corridor to have better ridership.