India’s 1st Pod taxi service to be launched in Uttar Pradesh (UP) between the upcoming ‘Noida International Airport’(NIA) (Jewar airport) and the proposed ‘Film city’ in Uttar Pradesh (UP). ‘Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority’ (YEIDA) has reported about the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) about the Project.
- The DPR was submitted to YEIDA by Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited.
- The project will cost Rs 862 crore and it will run around 14.5 km between the airport and film city.
- Financial models — YEIDA might choose from these 3 models such as public-private-partnership (PPP), hybrid model or funding to establish the PRT.
What is a Pod Taxi/ Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)?
It is an advanced public transport using automated electric pod cars/taxis that shuttles between destinations.
Note – The project is expected to take off in 2025 once the airport and film city get operational.
-Zurich Airport International Signed Agreement with NIAL for NIA
On July 17, 2021, Zurich Airport International AG, the Swiss company, signed a shareholder agreement with Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) for the development of the NIA in Jewar, UP.
i.Under the shareholder agreement, NIAL will hold one golden share in Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), a 100 percent subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG.
ii.Zurich International will design, develop and operate the airport under a 40-year concession, it may start work at the site of the airport in August 2021. The project would handle 12 million passengers per year.
iii.Zurich would invest 650 million Swiss francs ( ~Rs 4,663.731 crore) for the 1st phase, which was planned to be operational by 2023.
NIA: It is a proposed international airport to be constructed near the town of Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar, UP. YEIDA was the implementing agency on behalf of the Government of UP.
Film city: It is the project which is planned on a 1,000-acre area along the Yamuna Expressway in YEIDA’s Sector 21. It is expected to be completed within the next 3 years i.e within 2024.
Recent Related News:
Country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has sanctioned a loan of Rs.3725 crores with a tenure of 20 years for the development of NIA which is being developed by YIAPL.
About Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA):
Establishment – 2001 (Formerly Taj Expressway Industrial Development Authority)
Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Chairman – Arvind Kumar
