Municipal Corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Should Prepare a Plan for ‘Pod Taxi’: Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Deputy CM urges priority to ‘last-mile connectivity’

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : To provide commuters with an efficient public transport system that enables seamless travel from home directly to the workplace, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to prepare detailed plans for introducing pod taxi services.

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde reviewed the proposal to launch pod taxi services in cities across the MMR as a complementary mode of transport to metro and suburban local trains. During the meeting, he emphasized that municipal corporations must give top priority to providing last-mile connectivity to citizens.

The review meeting was held at Nandanvan and was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Asim Gupta, Principal Secretary Navin Sona, Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Additional Commissioner of MMRDA Ashwin Mudgal, Thane District Collector Shrikrishna Panchal, along with other senior officials.

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde stated that commuters currently depend on auto-rickshaws or buses to travel from their homes to railway or metro stations and then onward to their destinations. This dependence often leads to overcrowding and traffic congestion on roads. He said that planning and implementing pod taxi services would help address these issues. Such a system would encourage greater use of metro services while reducing the burden of private vehicles on city roads. He also instructed officials to seek support from the MMRDA for implementing the project.

He further stressed that municipal corporations should accord the highest priority to last-mile connectivity in their development plans. According to him, pod taxi services would save commuters’ time and, through reduced fuel consumption, contribute significantly to environmental protection as well.