Road transport Ministry says preparations under way for plying pod taxis in GIFT City

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, addressing the 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat 2024 Summit with its central theme of 'Gateway to the Future', said the ministry has already begun preparing a detailed project report (DPR) to run pod taxis in Gujarat's upcoming Gift City.

Minister Gadkari stated that MORTH had already formed a special committee to develop and recommend standards and specifications for the country's PRT system, and that establishing the DPR is a step towards that goal.

The PRT system, also known as pod cars or pod taxis, is a public transportation system that consists of small automated vehicles that operate on a network of specially designed guideways. The driverless pods are typically used for nonstop, point-to-point travel of four to six people at a time.

On the progress of running pods in Gujarat Gift City Ministries, National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has already invited proposals for the development of driverless pods for internal travel within the GIFT City, which will be integrated with the existing Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and Metro rail systems.

The Gujarat government intends to open an Ahmedabad Metro branch line connecting GIFT City to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in 2024.

Gujarat International Finance Tec City is a central business district under construction in the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat as a greenfield smart city and international financial services centre, which the Government of Gujarat is promoting as a greenfield project.

The greenfield city is being developed on 886 acres of land and will include office spaces, residential apartments, schools, hospitals, hotels, retail, and various recreational facilities.

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