New Delhi: India stands on the cusp of a significant metamorphosis in public transportation, marked by the completion of the nation’s inaugural hyperloop test track. On Tuesday, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw released a video that highlights this pivotal advancement, indicating that India is poised to initiate its high-speed transport system. Developed by IIT Madras, the hyperloop track extends over a distance of 422 metres.
In a recent tweet, Minister Vaishnaw underscored the importance of synergy between government entities and academic institutions in driving innovation in future transportation technologies. He asserted that hyperloop technology could facilitate travel over a distance of 350 kilometres in a mere 30 minutes. The successful implementation of this system could potentially halve the journey time between Delhi and Jaipur to just half an hour. Furthermore, he noted that the 422-metre-long test pod will be integral to the progression of hyperloop technology.
Acknowledging the strides made by the project, Vaishnaw has proposed an additional grant of $1 million to IIT Madras, supplementing the earlier funding of $2 million allocated by the government. He reiterated that Indian Railways plans to launch its first commercial hyperloop project upon the successful conclusion of experimental trials.
The hyperloop is heralded as a revolutionary transport innovation, wherein high-speed capsules traverse through a specially engineered vacuum tube. Should the trials yield positive outcomes, the landscape of public transport in India could experience a radical transformation. This system is envisioned to function at velocities reaching Mach 1 (1,224 km/h), with the development being financially supported by the Railway Ministry and construction managed by IIT Madras.