15km pod taxi corridor in Noida up for grabs

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has floated a global tender for the 14.6km pod taxi corridor, or personal rapid transit (PRT), connecting Noida International Airport to the proposed Film City in Sector 21.

After the state government gave its go-ahead to the project, YEIDA drew up a project report for the corridor that pegged the cost at Rs 640 crore in June. The project, slated for completion by March 2026, will be executed on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) basis, YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh said.

The pod taxi corridor will not only provide a seamless transport link between the international airport and the film city but also serve as an efficient public transport solution for the various YEIDA sectors including 21, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, and 35, he said.

“The detailed project report (DPR) for the pod taxi system has been prepared by the Indian Port Rail and Ropeway. In addition to advertising nationwide, YEIDA has issued tenders abroad including London, France, Abu Dhabi, the UK, the USA, and the Netherlands,” Singh added. Officials said the request for proposal (RFP) was issued on July 1 and the deadline to submit the applications is August 10. A pre-bid meeting will be held on July 17 and the technical bids of the companies will be opened on August 16. The concession period for the project is 35 years, including a two-year construction period, the CEO said.

According to the RFP, the PRT system will utilise small, automated electric “pod cars” to provide a taxi-like service for individuals or small groups of travellers. It will also offer demand-responsive feeder and shuttle services, connecting facilities like parking lots with major transport terminals, shopping centres, and exhibition centres.

The annual concession fee (ACF) quoted by the bidders will be the primary criterion for evaluating the financial bids. The project will be awarded to the bidder offering the highest ACF. It will become payable after seven years, which includes the two-year construction and five-year moratorium periods.