November 12, 2025: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated a drone survey across Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to finalise the route alignment and pillar locations for the upcoming Automated Rapid Transit System, popularly known as the pod taxi project. The survey, which began this week, aims to identify optimal spots for supporting pillars without obstructing pedestrian pathways or vehicular traffic.
Spanning nearly 8 km between Bandra and Kurla stations, the BKC pod taxi corridor is expected to require about 260 pillars, of which 100–120 could fall along footpaths. Officials said design teams are revising the layout to reduce the impact by relocating pillars to central road dividers wherever possible.
“We have been conducting an alignment and structural feasibility survey for about a month. The aim is to ensure integration with upcoming infrastructure, including the Metro 2B corridor and the proposed bullet train station,” an MMRDA official said.
The high-capacity automated system is designed to transport up to 20,000 passengers per hour, providing direct, point-to-point access across BKC’s bustling commercial districts. Once construction begins, completion is expected within three to four years.
Railway land parcels in Bandra and Kurla will host pod taxi terminals and maintenance depots. In Kurla, approximately 6,800 sq m of land—currently used as police quarters—will be repurposed for a terminal connected to Kurla station via a 200-metre foot overbridge, potentially fitted with a travelator. In Bandra, the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has agreed in principle to allocate 4,000 sq m for connectivity and service infrastructure.
A Central Railway official confirmed that discussions are ongoing, stating, “We have been approached by MMRDA regarding connectivity provisions, and the proposals are under review.”
Source: Hindustan Times
