Parts of India will become some of the first areas in the world to benefit from a functional hyperloop train system.
The government of Maharashtra state has signed an agreement with TuTr Hyperloop, a startup at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, to develop a Linear Induction Motor (LIM)-based hyperloop system to connect Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai with the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar district.
Newsweek has contacted TuTr Hyperloop for more information on the partnership via email.
Why It Matters
Hyperloop technology is designed to transport passengers and cargo at record speeds of up to 700 miles per hour, thanks to the use of magnetic levitation through vacuums.
The vacuum means there is no air resistance on the front of the vehicle, allowing transport tubes to move at very high speeds. The technology has been tested in various parts of the world, including India, and the construction of a test site in Italy would be a major breakthrough for the concept in Europe.
What To Know
The project aimed to address long-standing logistics bottlenecks by speeding cargo movement between two major port projects, where JNPT handled more than half of India’s containerized cargo and Vadhavan Port was planned to handle up to 250 million tonnes annually.
The Maharashtra memorandum of understanding with TuTr Hyperloop is one of 10 agreements the state government announced with a combined value of 428.92 billion Indian rupees ($4.9 billion) and an estimated creation of 25,892 jobs at the signing event.
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The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, also known as IIT Madras had previously built a 422-metre operational hyperloop test track at its campus and received government support as the institute and its incubated startups advanced prototype work, according to a press release from the Ministry of Railways.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Indian Railways have indicated plans to support further development and to consider a commercial 24-mile corridor after initial prototype grants, with the technology targeting top speeds reported by some outlets over 700 miles per hour.
The proposed hyperloop link focuses on freight and logistics efficiency between JNPT and Vadhavan, reflecting state priorities to reduce road and rail congestion affecting container movement at major ports.
What People Are Saying
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, said in a statement: “Hyperloop is not merely a transport system. It is a disruptive idea that can redefine logistics, mobility and economic geography.
“With IIT Bombay and IIT Madras supporting the effort, Maharashtra will lead the country in testing and scaling this transformative technology.”
What Happens Next
Indian Railways and IIT Madras planned to seek additional prototype funding and to evaluate potential sites for a 40- to 50-kilometer pre-commercial corridor as the next technical step.