100 Kmph Speed, Gliding Above Ground: Karnataka Explores Sharjah-Like 'String Transport' System To Connect Tourist Spots

The Karnataka government is planning to bring a futuristic way of moving tourists across the tourist destinations in the state to evade bustling roads and heavy traffic congestion. The state government is exploring the String Transport system, an elevated transit system where a pod glides above the ground using pre-stressed steel-reinforced tracks stretched tightly across supporting towers.

To bring it into reality, the government has sent a delegation to Sharjah in the UAE to analyse the famous 'String Transport' system.

The delegation is led by Energy and Tourism Minister KJ George. The team will study the technology and examine its engineering, passenger capacity, safety systems, operations and the amount of ground space required.

The tourism department is examining whether the transit system could work and prove effective in the state's tourist sites like Hampi, which are environmentally sensitive. The government will examine all aspects, including maintenance, efficacy and others before finalising a transport means.

Tourism Department Secretary Ram Prasath Manohar said, "Transport systems offering connectivity with limited land use could prove useful at selected tourism destinations. But a comprehensive feasibility study would be required before identifying suitable locations. If the idea is found feasible, this could mark a significant shift in how Karnataka approaches mobility at its popular tourism hotspots."

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Know about String Transport

Sharjah's String Transport system is developed by uSky Transport/ Unitsky Strig Technologies. It is a second-level urban mobility solution that requires minimal ground space for operating.

It is ideal for congested and ecologically sensitive areas where land acquisition becomes a hurdle.

The system operates at a speed of 150 kmph on flexible lines and up to 500 kmph on rigid lines with high-speed configurations. The transit system is suitable for carrying both passengers and cargo.

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The system can be used to run a 4-passenger electric pod with a speed of 50kmph and a 25-passenger bus with a speed of 100 kmph.