IIT Madras has taken a major step toward bringing Hyperloop technology to India. A 410-meter-long Hyperloop test track was recently unveiled at the institute. This is the country’s first attempt to build a Hyperloop system.
The Mumbai-Pune route has been selected for India’s first full-scale Hyperloop system. The project has been divided into two phases. The first phase involves an 11.5-kilometre test track to demonstrate the system's safety and reliability. The second phase plans to expand the system to 100 kilometres for real-world operations.
As many as 76 IIT Madras students from the Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr worked on the project. The breakthrough was celebrated by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who appreciated the efforts of Indian Railways, TuTr, and IIT Madras.
Watch: Bharat’s first Hyperloop test track (410 meters) completed.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) December 5, 2024
👍 Team Railways, IIT-Madras’ Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr (incubated startup)
📍At IIT-M discovery campus, Thaiyur pic.twitter.com/jjMxkTdvAd
If implemented, this system will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 25 minutes. It will also offer an affordable alternative to flying, with ticket prices expected to range between INR 1,000 and INR 1,500.
Hyperloop technology was first conceptualised by Elon Musk in 2012. It uses pressurised pods to transport passengers at high speeds inside low-pressure vacuum tubes. By minimising friction, it can reach speeds of up to 1,100 km/h. Each pod can carry 24 to 28 passengers, providing energy-efficient and uninterrupted travel.
India is also exploring cargo applications for Hyperloop. Quintrans Hyperloop, a Pune-based company, plans to launch the first cargo Hyperloop system by 2027–2028. A 100-meter pilot facility is already under construction in Pune to test the system.
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