20/02/2018
Metrino: Thane may soon get driverless transport pods to get to nearest metro station
Driverless pods, known as Metrino, may soon be introduced as a Personal Rapid Transit System (PRTS) to help locals in Thane commute to the nearest metro stations.
A Hindustan Times report stated a presentation was made on PRTS during a metro project review meeting, held between the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) last Saturday.
"Civic commissioner Sanjeev Jasiwal has come up with the idea of launching the PRT system in Thane, and has also presented it before the MMRDA authorities in the review meeting," Sandeep Malvi, public relations officer (PRO) of the TMC told the paper.
The futurtistic, driverless and pod-shape vehicles have a capacity to accommodate two to six people, along a fixed track. The pod vehicles can move at a speed of 80-130 km per hour.
Metrino, funded by the TMC, would carry commuters to the upcoming metro stations within the city.
"The city will soon have metro lines; however, it is necessary that there is proper connectivity for the people to reach these metro stations. Thus PRT will not only link Thane city to metro stations, but can also be extended to Kalwa and Mumbra for short distant routes, as an alternate mode of transport," Malvi said.
According to the report, the TMC would implement the system in Thane. The routes for PRTS, which aims at providing an access road to these metro stations, will be decided in the next fortnight. The budget estimate for the project will also be made during the same time, the report said.
Malvi added the advanced system will not take a long time to get functional.
"The tracks are made of fibre, and thus they can be constructed in a short span of time. The pod cars also operate on laser, thereby not needing any manpower. Jaiswal plans to install the system as early as possible in the city as the implementation is less time consuming,” Malvi said.
