A total of 11 companies, both domestic and international, have expressed interest in the proposed pod taxi project that would connect the Noida International Airport in Jewar to Film City in Sector 21. In a pre-bid meeting held on Wednesday, representatives from PRT UK, L&T, Systra France, Ultra PRT, Siemens, Tata, IRB Infrastructure, Intamin Transportation (Switzerland), Hyundai, Kalpataru, and Invest India participated both online and offline. The meeting was chaired by infrastructure and industrial development commissioner, Manoj Kumar Singh.
During the meeting, the companies raised queries regarding the extension of the global tender deadline, profit sharing, and the grant status of the project. Officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) assured that they would review the queries raised and provide a response in due course.
Participants at the meeting included representatives from YEIDA, as well as additional CEO Kapil Singh, OSD Shailendra Bhatia, and Sanjeev Mhatre from the Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited, the organization responsible for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
YEIDA had announced a global tender for the construction of a cutting-edge pod taxi system, or personal rapid transit (PRT), linking the Noida International Airport to the proposed Film City on July 1. The project will be executed on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) basis.
The deadline for applications is set for August 10, with technical bids from the companies to be opened on August 16. The estimated cost for the development of the 14.6 km PRT project is Rs 641.53 crore, which includes construction costs like civil, electrical, mechanical, and related expenses. The project’s concession period is set at 35 years, with a two-year construction period included.
The pod taxi connectivity will not only provide seamless transportation between the international airport and the film city but also serve as an efficient public transport solution for various sectors including 21, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, and 35 within YEIDA.