India's 1st hyperloop test track unveiled at IIT Madras
What's the story
India has unveiled its first hyperloop test track at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
The 422-meter-long track, backed by the Ministry of Railways, will allow high-speed trains to travel in a near-vacuum tube at speeds over 1,000km/h.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said once the tech is fully tested, the first commercial project will be a whopping 4,050km.
Futuristic transportation
Hyperloop technology promises swift and efficient travel
The hyperloop tech could cut down travel time between Delhi and Jaipur (around 300km) to under 30 minutes.
Vaishnaw emphasized government-academia partnership in pushing the boundaries of innovation in transport.
He said the project is a vital step toward modernizing travel and emphasized the Modi government's commitment to innovation.
The hyperloop idea was first pitched by Elon Musk in 2013 and uses electromagnetically levitating pods in vacuum tubes to remove friction and air drag.
Project funding
IIT Madras receives funding for hyperloop project development
The project has been funded by the Ministry of Railways, with IIT Madras receiving two one-million-dollar grants. A third grant is in the pipeline for further development.
Vaishnaw celebrated the success of the hyperloop track on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote about the collaboration's role in advancing transportation technology.
"Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation in futuristic transportation," Vaishnaw wrote in a post on X.
Twitter Post
Vaishnaw's post on X
The hyperloop project at @iitmadras; Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation in futuristic transportation. pic.twitter.com/S1r1wirK5o
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 24, 2025
Technological competition
IIT Madras hosts Asia's 1st global Hyperloop competition
IIT Madras is also hosting Asia's first Global Hyperloop Competition (GHC) 2025, with 10 teams and 200 students.
Pankaj Sharma from the Railway Board called the competition a testament to India's leadership in transportation technology.
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti expressed hope that we will soon achieve fast hyperloop connectivity across India.
The hyperloop system promises weather immunity, collision-free commutes at twice the speed of planes, low power consumption, and energy storage for continuous operations.