US, Singapore firms bid for city pod-taxi project

Three companies are vying for the city's futuristic pod-taxi project. Pod taxis provide "personal, on-demand travel throughout a network of dedicated guideways," according to the BBMP.

The project, covering 35.5 km, envisages an elevated network that ferries people in car-sized coaches.

Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said, "Five months ago, we called for expression of interest. Three companies came forward with proposals, which we sent to the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) for evaluation." The IISC has cleared the proposals and given its recommendations, he told DH. The bidders are Ultra Fairwood Green Transport (Singapore),  and JPods Inc and Sky Tran Asia (both USA).

The BBMP has suggested five routes for the project under the private-public partnership model.  "Since this is elevated transport, it will be fast. The fares will be lower than in cabs," he said.