Delhi Metrino: Traveling in driverless pods to become a reality

The ropeway like system runs on electricity and driverless pods and comes down at designated stations, removing the traffic burden from congested roads.

The government's ambitious Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion) 'Metrino' public transport project, which will enable traveling in driverless pods suspended on a ropeway in the national capital region, is scheduled to hit the ground in the next two months, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.

"We have received four tenders for Metrino project to be build from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to Manesar in Haryana. We have received four tenders for that and expect the work to begin in the two months," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on the sidelines of an event to launch a joint study report by TCI and IIM, Kolkata on "Operational Efficiency of Freight Transportation by Road in India."

To start with the project will connect the 70-km stretch from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to Manesar in Haryana to decongest the national capital region and ease traffic.

The ropeway like system runs on electricity and driverless pods and comes down at designated stations thus removing the traffic burden from already congested roads, he said, adding the capital cost of metrino is Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) per km against Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.5 billion) per km of the metro.

Under the project, fully automatic, driverless small pods travel independently suspended over an overhead network which is usually 5-10 meters above ground.

A few months ago, a presentation on the project was made before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet.

Gadkari said the massive work is underway to reform the face of the highways sector and the pilot project will be one such step in the direction.