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Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Thursday (Dec 5) shared a video on social media platform X, showing the completion of a 410-meter Hyperloop test track.

Vaishnaw wrote, “Thumbs up to Team Railways, IIT-Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr (incubated startup)."

The test track is located at IIT Madras' Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, is a result of a collaborative effort between Indian Railways, IIT-Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop team, and TuTr Hyperloop, a startup incubated at the institute.

Vaishnaw dubbed the project as "Bharat's first Hyperloop test track (410 meters).”

The minister in his post hoped that the dream to realise futuristic Hyperloop technology would soon be materialised.

According to a press release, the project is aimed at developing hyperloop technology for high-speed, affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation.

India's Ministry of Railways is is developing this project in collaboration with IIT Madras.

The inaugural run of the 410-meter Hyperloop test track at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur achieved a speed of 100 km/h.

Future tests will advance on the longer track, aiming to reach speeds of approximately 600 km/h.

Should developments proceed as anticipated, Hyperloop technology has the potential to transform urban mobility, possibly enhancing or complementing India's existing Metro Rail system and teansforming the transit framework across the nation.

Initially conceptualised centuries ago, Hyperloop technology gained renewed attention in 2013 when Elon Musk presented a white paper outlining its feasibility.

Musk’s vision described a system capable of revolutionising transport, providing an alternative to traditional rail and air travel.

Hyperloop in India: A Game Changer?
India’s ambitious Hyperloop dreams are taking shape with the completion of a 410-meter-long test track in Chennai, located at IIT Madras’ Discovery Campus.

This marks a significant commitment to pioneering high-speed, sustainable transportation. Initial trials will begin at speeds of 100 km/h, with later tests targeting 600 km/h on extended tracks.

Travel Time Reduction Hyperloop could cut urban commute times dramatically, covering 60 km in just 15 minutes.
Metro Rail Support  High-speed corridors could integrate seamlessly with existing Metro systems.
Sustainability Operating in vacuum-sealed tubes, Hyperloop aligns with India’s green transport objectives through energy efficiency.
The project includes two phases an 11.5-km track for initial testing and a potential 100-km extension.

Despite scalability and cost hurdles, partnerships with TuTr Hyperloop and Indian Railways underscore the project’s momentum.

Mumbai-Pune Corridor
The Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop, promising travel times of 25 minutes, could be India’s first full-scale deployment.

While in early stages, the initiative reflects Hyperloop’s transformative potential, blending speed, efficiency, and innovation for urban mobility.