The Nepal Weekly 
August 8, 2023
Commoners can find many similarities in Podways and Ropeways or Cable cars. Podways are a type of transportation system that uses pods to move people and goods from one point to another through a guided cable system. The pods are the vehicles that carry passengers along the Podway track. They are typically small and lightweight, and they can accommodate a good number of passengers. The pods are equipped with a variety of safety features, including brakes, sensors, and a communication system.
Podways are a promising new transportation technology with the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. They are a relatively new technology, but they have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. As the technology continues to develop and improvise, its uses can be expected wider expansion.
The technologies behind Podways are relatively simple. The pods are suspended from a single cable that runs overhead. The cable is powered by an electric motor, which drives the pods along the track. The pods are controlled by a computer system, which ensures that they stay on track and avoid collisions.
Podways offer a number of advantages over other transportation systems. They are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and can be built in a relatively shorter time. They are also able to operate in all weather conditions, making them a reliable option for year-round transportation.
The most common type of Podway uses a single cable to suspend the pods. However, there are also Podway systems that use multiple cables, as well as systems that use a magnetic levitation system to suspend the pods.
One attractive Podway system is being constructed in Dubai, UAE. The Dubai podway is a 100-kilometer in length and designed to connect different parts of Dubai.The construction and installations are expected to be completed within 2023.
Keeping in view the benefits of Podway system that it can contribute the country with environment, climate air pollution, appropriate use of clean energy, reduce use of fossil fuel and easier public transportation system, a private entity in Nepal has been preparing to introduce this technology in the country.
Moreover, it can contribute to reduce traffic jams in the Kathmandu Valley which costs 116 billion rupees per annum. Likewise,it can contribute to control massive air pollution, sound pollution and so on.
The Podway technology pays back to carry 100 tons of goods to 100 km within 1 hour. It can travel ascending up to 45 degree as its gradient ratio is extensively efficient. In addition, it can travel at 150 km per hour speed. A single pod may be designed to accommodate 42 persons at maximum to travel or 2 persons at least.
Another feature of Podway system isthat a distance of two km may be kept for two poles. This has been proved in some European countries. However, it cannot be possible over the winding roads of the Kathmandu Valley and other places. That means more poles may be required for short distance to cover.
Podway system is a low-expense technology as it costs 4% of a metro, 15% of monorail and 50% of cable car while passenger travel service is as good as a service of metro. The direct cost as said above can be utilized to build 200 km of Podway. This can be built above the existing roads which one additional benefit. So as 100 km of Podway system can be built in 18 months. The construction methods is environment friendly as well. Minimal number of trees may be needed to cut while when in operation, it does not make any noise to disturb the wildlife in the jungle if the system has to pass through national park area or forests.
Electricity Back up system is provisioned for 120 km to travel without operating air conditioner while 80 km can be traveled with air conditioner.
Thus this is a viable technology for transportation in Nepal which can serve remote and mountainous areas. This can also contribute to tourism industry in Nepal.
More to mention, Belarus scientist Anatoli Unitsky had invented this string-based transport system. Unitsky String Technologies is an international engineering company which has been designing, constructing and maintaining the overpass transportation system.
Three million dollars is required to construct a podway per kilometer. According to this, it takes Rs 40 million rupees to make 1 km. The cost is of European standard. The company involved claims that the cost will be reduced by using materials available in Nepal itself.
According to the companies involved in Podway systems, the string-based technology has already been certified in Europe and America in 2020. Apart from that, Chinese, Indian, Australian, Canadian, Russian standards have been adopted. UNESCO has also allowed it to be listed as a World Heritage Site.
