SkyTran, a personalised rapid transit system (PRT), recently got the go-ahead from Google chairman Eric Schmidt. He invested an undisclosed amount in the NASA-partnered start-up through his fund, Innovation Endeavors.
SkyTran implements a network of computer controlled, levitating vehicles that operate above a magnetic strip in order to transport passengers through surface traffic. It hopes to change the face of public transport across the world. The first public experiment is being built in Tel Aviv, Israel and SkyTran plans to expand to ten countries including the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
SkyTran in India
In the following video, SkyTran CEO Jerry Sanders describes the possibility of the entrance of the PTR into India.
In the following video, SkyTran CEO Jerry Sanders describes the possibility of the entrance of the PTR into India.
Ankur Bhatnagar, Vice President of SkyTran India, said he expects the personal rapid transit system to be operational in parts of the country within the next two years. He believes India will be SkyTran’s biggest market. SkyTran is currently in negotiations with the Indian government and plans to introduce the service in parts of Jaipur, Bihar, Jharkhand and Kerala.
This is not the first time that India has been interested in establishing a personalised transit system.
In 2011, ULTra Fairwood got a contract to develop India’s first pod transport system in Amritsar.
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However, the plan was scrapped for multiple reasons.
This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.