[sustran] PRT proposal for Delhi convinces Chief Minister

[Faizan Jawed]

We might remember (almost) lampooning Roger Davidheiser's vision contained
in "The Third Generation Roadway:Metropolitan Transport for the 21st
Century". It seems it is turning to reality in New Delhi. Some "interesting"
bits of text has been highlighted by me. Whatever happened to common sense!

-Faizan

###
* After Metro, now Pod Cars for Delhi? *
*New Delhi: * Delhi may soon have a pod car system on the lines of those in
many western cities under which battery operated automated pods, having a
capacity to carry up to six passengers, will offer transportation from point
to point.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, after witnessing a presentation, asked
Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS) and Transport
Department to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on introduction of the
pollution free transport system in the city.

Pod car system is a public transportation mode featuring small automated
vehicles operating on a network of specially-built tracks. In pod car
system, vehicles are sized for individual or small group travel, typically
carrying no more than six passengers per vehicle.

After the presentation, Dikshit said her government is keen to take it up as
a pilot project in areas such as Dwarka, Karol Bagh, East Delhi and Delhi
University North Campus.

"It will definitely supplement the existing modes of public transport and
will come up as an alternative to the personal vehicles," Dikshit said.

Transport department officials said the new system may be termed as a
personal rapid transit.

The private company, which gave the presentation on the project, has offered
to commission it with its own resources.

"Further it will be economically viable as far as the commuters are
concerned. The average fare of the pod will come to be around Rs. 6 per km,"
said the official.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/after-metro-now-pod-cars-for-delhi-101691