In today’s fast-paced world, travellers are always looking for ways to cut down on long and exhausting journeys. Whether it’s business meetings, weekend getaways, or family visits, the desire to reach a destination as quickly and efficiently as possible has never been greater. Now, India is taking a major step towards making high-speed travel a reality with the unveiling of its first hyperloop test track at IIT Madras, slated to run between Delhi and Jaipur.
Developed with support from the Ministry of Railways, the 422-metre-long test facility has demonstrated the potential to revolutionise intercity transport, allowing speeds of over 1,000 km/h. The hyperloop system, which uses electromagnetically levitating pods in a vacuum tube, has shown that a distance of 350 km can be covered in just 30 minutes. Once operational, passengers could travel from Delhi to Jaipur in under half an hour, compared to the current five-hour road journey.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the milestone, highlighted the government’s focus on futuristic transportation. “Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation,” he wrote on X. He also revealed that Indian Railways will launch its first commercial hyperloop project once the technology is fully tested.
“The first pod of 422 metres will go a long way in developing the necessary technology,” Vaishnaw said, adding that a third grant of $1 million will be allocated to IIT Madras for further advancements. He also mentioned that the first full-scale commercial track could cover up to 4,050 km, which would redefine travel across India.
Hyperloop travel is expected to be faster, more efficient, and more sustainable than conventional rail or air travel. Since the pods operate within a vacuum tube, they eliminate friction and air resistance, allowing speeds up to Mach 1 (1,224 km/h).
(With inputs from multiple news reports)