The transport network in the National Capital Region (NCR) will get an all new mode of communication — a Rs4,000 crore project “Metrino” — fully automated and driverless pods operating on ropeway between Dhaula Kuan and Manesar. This is one of the busiest stretches and the proposed mode of transport promises to decongest it.
Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Friday that work on the electricity-run-transport will kick start within four months. The project will cover a 70-km stretch from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to Manesar in Haryana.
“The detailed project reports are in and the Government has approved the plan. We should start work on the project within four months,” he said at an interaction with the media.
The cost of Metrino comes to barely Rs50 crore a km compared with Rs350 crore a km for the Metro. Gadkari said the project will be built in less than half the time it takes to build a Metro as it does not require land or major construction as pillars at long intervals would be erected in between the roads.
“The Metrino will not just help decongest traffic on the National Highway-8 but will also help in bringing down air pollution, besides cutting
down the travel time for commuters between Gurgaon and Delhi,” he said.
“Each pod, carrying up to five people, would run at a speed of up to 50 km per hour,” he said. Gadkari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government was taking a number of initiatives to bring in new technology in the transport sector, in the light of a rising number of vehicles in Delhi.
Additionally, as an eco-friendly measure, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with the Road Ministry is developing cost-effective lithium-ion batteries that will power electric buses in Delhi. The Government plans to start a pilot project in Delhi, where at least 20 buses will be converted from diesel/CNG engines to electric mode.
“These buses will be driven by economically viable battery technology within six months,” he said, adding he plans to unveil one such bus in Parliament within two months.