- Technical and operational review of elevated pod transport system
- Potential use at major tourism destinations and space-constrained locations examined
- Focus on low land use, better connectivity and improved visitor experience
Sharjah: A Karnataka Tourism delegation led by Energy and Tourism Minister Shri K.J. George visited Sharjah to study the String Transport / Elevated Pod Transport System and assess its potential application in Karnataka.
The delegation reviewed the system’s technical design, operational model, passenger-carrying capacity, safety features and its ability to provide connectivity with a relatively low land footprint.
Unlike conventional road or rail infrastructure, the system operates on an elevated alignment, allowing passenger movement with limited use of ground-level space. The delegation explored its potential for internal mobility at tourism destinations, last-mile connectivity and use in areas where land availability is limited.
The technology could be examined further for locations such as large tourism zones like Hampi, hill destinations, tourism sites adjoining urban areas and places where land acquisition is difficult.
After inspecting the system, Minister K.J. George said, “Tourism development is not only about improving destinations. It is equally important to ensure that visitors can reach destinations easily and move within them conveniently. Our objective is to study emerging transport technologies being used across the world and assess which models are suitable for Karnataka. We will examine the technical, financial, safety and operational feasibility of the system we saw in Sharjah and explore its possible application at selected locations in the State.”
Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary, Tourism Department, said, “Technologies that provide connectivity with a lower land footprint could be useful at select tourism destinations in Karnataka. As directed by the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, a comprehensive feasibility study covering local geography, passenger volumes, cost, maintenance and safety will be undertaken before identifying suitable locations and taking the proposal forward.”
KSTDC Chairman Shri Srinivas M.; Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary, Tourism Department; Shri Shivaprasad P.R., Commissioner, Tourism Department and Managing Director, KSTDC; and Dr. Santrupt H.V., Advisor to the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, were present during the visit.
