Mumbai is getting another new mode of transport. One that is similar in appearance to an autorickshaw, but which is classier and more personalised. A personal rapid transit (pod car) on the lines of those working at the Heathrow Airport in London will soon be a reality for the city. The system is presently publicly operational only at the Heathrow airport since May 2011 and is referred to as the Heathrow pod system, consisting of 21 vehicles operating on a 3.9-kilometre route connecting Terminal 5 to its business passenger car park.

The 282nd executive committee meeting of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), chaired by the chief secretary, on Wednesday granted approval for the appointment of Sai Green Mobility Private Limited as the concessionaire. The firm has been entrusted with the design, engineering, development, construction, testing, commissioning also operation and maintenance on Design, Finance, Build-Operate-Transfer (DFBOT) basis of the automated rapid transit system (pod taxi) in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The firm has partnered with Ultra PRT, a technology provider with a proven track record which has been running the operational Pod Taxi system at Heathrow.