Soon you may travel in driverless pods as Niti Aayog clears 6 proposals

Mumbai: Imagine reaching office within minutes in a driverless pod taxi or a swanky metrino, spared of the daily horror of traffic jams. This imagination may soon transform into a reality as Niti Aayog has cleared six proposals exploring techonologically advanced options of public transport.

The transport ministry has formed a six-member committee following the government think tank’s clearance. Headed by a top railway official, the committee will examine safety parameters associated with adopting global technologies in the Indian public transport system, reported the Economic Times.

These new-age technologies include metrino, stadler buses, hyperloop, pod taxis, hybrid buses and freight rail road. They have various safety parameters associated with them.

This report comes, just days after Union Minister for Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said driverless cars will not be allowed in India as it will leave to joblessness.

According to the ET report, the Aayog has mandated that the ministry conduct trial runs of all these technologies before launching them. “These new technologies are path breaking and can alter the way of intercity travel in the country. Since we don't have any such thing in India, we need to know the global safety standards and ensure that these technology companies are following it,” said a senior transport ministry official.

These advanced global practices are being explored to tackle the ever-growing traffic problem in the country, especially in metro cities. Also, some of these technologies are more cost-effective than the existing ones.