August 14, 2025: Mumbai’s long-anticipated pod taxi scheme at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) has moved a step closer to reality following approval from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). The Rs 1,016-crore Automated Rapid Transit System (ARTS) is designed to transform last-mile connectivity in the city’s principal financial district, yet it comes with an environmental cost.
Scheduled for completion within three years, the elevated network of driverless pods is expected to carry between four and six lakh passengers daily. With 21 stations positioned across BKC, the system aims to deliver swifter, more dependable journeys, cut reliance on fuel-based transport, and alleviate congestion.
However, clearance documents reveal the project will affect 0.14 hectares of mangroves and necessitate the removal of 431 trees. A short section of the 8.01-kilometre alignment will traverse mangrove belts adjacent to BKC. The implementing agency has applied to the Tree Authority for permission to clear vegetation.
Presently, BKC commuters largely depend on buses, auto-rickshaws, and taxis for travel from nearby railway stations, with complaints of irregular bus services, auto overcharging, and overcrowding at peak times. Officials note that conventional buses are often underused outside rush hours, creating inefficiencies.
The ARTS will employ compact, battery-powered pods operating on a dedicated elevated track between Bandra and Kurla, functioning on demand and equipped with smart sensors, automated controls, and charging points at each station.
While transport planners hail the project as a template for integrating technology-driven, zero-emission mobility, environmentalists warn of the risks posed by mangrove loss. These ecosystems are vital as flood barriers and carbon sinks, underpinning Mumbai’s ecological health.
Experts stress that even limited damage could set dangerous precedents, urging strict enforcement of mitigation measures such as compensatory planting and restoration. With environmental clearance granted, final permits for tree removal and other approvals will determine when construction commences.
Source: Urban Acres
