Pod taxi experiments

NITI Aayog panel has cleared a government proposal to test three rapid transport systems using pod cars— futuristic, driverless vehicles that run along a pre-determined course. The three companies that have won approval are: Ultra Global PRT, skyTran, a company created by the US space agency Nasa, and Metrino PRT, which has formed joint ventures with Indian companies. The pod vehicles of Ultra are made of steel with rubber tyres that run on specially made tracks, while those of skyTran are magnetically levitated and Metrino pods are suspended from overhead rails. all the technologies cost less than Rs 100Cr per km. The new technologies will be tried on a pilot stretch of about 1km length on different stretches.