Revanth: PRTS Line From LB Stadium To Ranigunj, Tenders In Dec, Operations In A Year
The Chief Minister said PRTS could provide a convenient and efficient last-mile and short-distance public transport option in densely populated and congested parts of Hyderabad. The system uses small automated vehicles operating on dedicated guideways, allowing passengers to travel directly to their destinations without the frequent stops and fixed routes associated with conventional buses
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to take up a personal rapid transit system (PRTS) line from LB Stadium to Ranigunj bus station as the first major corridor in Hyderabad and complete it within a year. He also instructed officials to complete the tender process by December.
During a review meeting on the proposed system on Thursday, the Chief Minister said the first corridor should run from LB Stadium via the Dr Ambedkar statue, Indira Park and Lower Tank Bund to Ranigunj bus station. He directed officials to take up the project on priority.
Revanth Reddy also proposed another corridor connecting Assembly Metro Rail station with Ravindra Bharathi and the Secretariat and extending from IMAX to Begumpet. He directed officials to prepare plans for a multi-level parking facility on the P.V. Narasimha Rao Mag (Necklace Road) along the Hussainsagar and establish a PRTS depot within the facility.
He ordered officials to immediately take up a PRTS corridor from KPHB Metro Rail station through Durgam Cheruvu and Raheja Mindspace to Biodiversity Metro Rail station. A multi-level parking facility with a PRTS depot should also be established near IKEA at Gachibowli, he said.
The Chief Minister said PRTS could provide a convenient and efficient last-mile and short-distance public transport option in densely populated and congested parts of Hyderabad. The system uses small automated vehicles operating on dedicated guideways, allowing passengers to travel directly to their destinations without the frequent stops and fixed routes associated with conventional buses. It can help reduce road congestion, travel time and dependence on private vehicles while offering point-to-point connectivity with Metro stations and major commercial and public destinations.
The proposed corridors were intended to strengthen connectivity between Rail Metro stations, major government institutions, commercial hubs, tourist and recreational areas and bus terminals. Integration of PRTS with multi-level parking facilities would also enable commuters to park their vehicles at strategic locations and switch to the automated transit system for the onward journey.
CMO Secretary K. Manicka Raj, Hyderabad Metro Rail MD Sarfaraz Ahmed, Metro Rail Additional MD B. Ajith Reddy, municipal commissioners G. Srijana (Cyberabad) and R.V. Karnan (GHMC), Future City Development Authority commissioner Shashanka and senior officials attended the meeting.
India has so far seen limited implementation of true PRTS systems. Amritsar city has implemented a small automated pod-based PRTS-type system at the airport/transport interface, while Gurugram and Delhi-NCR have seen proposals and pilot plans for automated pod/PRT systems. Hyderabad’s proposed network would therefore be among the more ambitious attempts to deploy PRTS as an urban public-transport system in India, official sources said.