Will high-tech public transport be a reality in India?

The transport ministry has formed a six member committee to study safety parameters associated with these technologies and global practices.

NEW DELHI: The government think-tank Niti Aayog has cleared proposals of the transport ministry exploring options to improve public transport. Soon mass rapid transportation technologies such as hyperloop, metrino and pod taxis could be a reality in India.

According to The Economics Times report, the transport ministry has formed a six member committee to study safety parameters associated with these technologies and global practices.

A senior government official at Niti Aayog told ET, the Nitia Aayog has put a condition that the transport ministry should conduct a trial run of all these technologies and puts in place safety measures before starting commercial operation.

What are Metrino, Podtaxi and Hyperloop?

Metrino: Fully automatic, driverless small pods travel independently suspended over an overhead network which is usually 5-10 meters above the ground.

Podtaxi: Small automated vehicles/podcars/cable cars which carry a small number of passengers. The ropeway-like system runs on electricity and driverless pods and comes down at designated stations, thus removing the traffic burden from crowded roads

Hyperloop: A hyperloop comprises a sealed tube or series of tubes through which a pod may travel free of air resistance or friction conveying people or objects at speeds matching that of an aircraft.

A senior transport ministry official told ET: "These new technologies are path breaking and can alter the way of intercity travel in the country. Since we don't have any such thing in India, we need to know the global safety standards and ensure that these technology companies are following it."

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