Metro expansion sparks fresh demands for pod car system in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: As the Congress-led Telangana government moves forward with the second phase of metro train expansion in Hyderabad, the concept of pod or cable cars as part of a Personalized Rapid Transit System (PRTS) has resurfaced.

The city residents suggest that these pod cars would be highly beneficial if deployed in congested areas as these vehicles can carry four to eight persons.

The previous BRS government had identified two areas in Hyderabad for PRTS implementation. The first was a 7.5-km stretch connecting Rayadurgam Metro Station in Corridor-3 to several key locations including Mindspace, Inorbit Mall, Aurobindo, Knowledge City, and ITC Kohinoor. The second route, spanning 10 km, was proposed to link busy stretches on Assembly to Paradise Metro Station via Secretariat and JBS-MGBS.

During the BRS government’s tenure, then IT Minister KTR had informed the central government of these plans. However, the project stalled due to apparent lack of interest from the then government.

The Revanth Reddy-led government has prioritized metro expansion under the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II project. It is planning 116.4 kilometers of new metro corridors across six routes. The state government has already sanctioned Rs. 24,269 crore for the development of five corridors in the first phase. As these expansion plans progress, city residents are urging the government to revive and integrate the PRTS system, particularly in congested areas.