The Telangana government is exploring a pod-based transport system to improve last-mile connectivity for commuters using the Hyderabad Metro Rail.
The initiative is being planned by Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), which has initiated steps to assess the feasibility of introducing an automated Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) network in the city, reportedThe Hindu.
The proposed system would involve small battery-operated pods designed to carry four to six passengers each.
According to the report, the pods could collectively handle up to 10,000 passengers per hour and would connect metro stations to nearby residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas, helping bridge the gap between stations and commuters' final destinations.
To move the plan forward, HMRL floated a tender last month to appoint a consultant for a techno-economic feasibility study. The selected agency will also be responsible for preparing the system design and overseeing the bidding process for implementing the project.
The pilot corridor is proposed along the Raidurg-Kukatpally stretch, covering several busy locations including Raidurg, Hi-Tec City, Financial District and Secretariat.
Officials believe the route could serve as a demonstration of how the system can complement the existing metro network.
"It will complement metro rail services, with a bridge connecting the station to the automated system. An elevated viaduct will be built along the road median, with a footprint of just 60 cm, and will be at a height of about five metres from ground level. At present, we do not foresee the need for additional land acquisition unless local ground conditions necessitate it," a senior official was quoted as saying in the report.
The pods would run along an overhead viaduct about four to five metres wide, built roughly five metres above the ground. Similar automated pod systems are already operating at airports such as Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, as well as in the Netherlands and Abu Dhabi.
Officials said the feasibility study and related planning could take up to six months. The project is expected to be implemented through a public-private partnership model.
HMRL also plans to introduce a long-pending common fare card to integrate metro travel with last-mile transport services once the system is launched.