India's first driverless pod taxi system to decongest BKC in Mumbai, 1st phase within ten months

India's first driverless pod taxi system to decongest BKC in Mumbai, 1st phase within ten months

Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the driverless Pod taxi project, an Automated Rapid Transit System being developed between Kurla and BKC in Mumbai, to provide last-mile connectivity for daily commuters.

India's first driverless pod taxi system to decongest BKC in Mumbai, 1st phase within ten months

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were present at the function along with the chief minister at the Diamond Garden metro station in Chembur.

Fadnavis said that all necessary approvals for the project have been received.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is executing the pod taxi project between Kurla and Bandra Kurla Complex to provide last-mile connectivity to the biggest business district in the financial capital.

Bandra Kurla Complex is a premier commercial business district in Mumbai, India, developed by MMRDA to decentralise commercial activities. It hosts multinational corporations, banks, and the National Stock Exchange. Known for its modern infrastructure, it also features restaurants, hotels, and the Bharat Diamond Bourse.

The 8.85-km Automated Rapid Transit System is expected to boost last-mile connectivity when it is developed in phases, MMRDA officials said.

The system will connect key locations like LBS Marg, Kalanagar, and BKC, linking Bandra and Kurla suburban railway stations.

The driverless, AI-based pods will run on battery power along a dedicated guideway, each carrying up to six passengers at a maximum speed of 40 kmph with a headway of 15 seconds. The pods will stop only at stations selected by passengers, enabling faster and more efficient travel.

The project will be implemented on a public-private partnership basis without any financial burden on the state government or MMRDA, while still generating revenue for the authority.

The system will integrate with Metro Line 3 at BKC and with Metro Line 2B at ITO and IL&FS stations, strengthening the city's multi-modal transport network. A depot is planned at the RLDA plot in Bandra East to support operations.

Officials said the pod taxi system is expected to reduce traffic congestion, cut travel time and promote eco-friendly mobility, with a projected daily ridership of over 1.09 lakh passengers by 2031.

Addressing the function, Fadnavis said the pod taxi project has been planned in such a way that passengers travelling to Kurla or Bandra won't be required to use any other public transport.

"A person alighting either from the metro or a suburban train will not be required to use another mode of public transport thereafter. He can reach within a distance of 100 to 150 metres by this pod taxi," he said, adding that the project will completely decongest the BKC.

Highlighting that the first phase of the project will be ready within 10 months, Fadnavis asked MMRDA to alert him immediately if any agency attempts to stop the project work.

He said the replication of the project at other places is feasible if the original launch is successful.

The chief minister added that a network of tunnels will be developed at BKC for boosting connectivity.

"One of the tunnels will start from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and end at the BKC metro and the bullet train station. From there, one arm will lead towards Kurla and another towards the airport. In the future, efforts will be made to connect it to the Coastal Road," he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.