Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, Professor- Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras and co-founder and advisor at TuTr Hyperloop, highlighted that this competition will position India as a global hub for hyperloop research. The 410-meter vacuum tube, expected to be completed by September 2024, will be among the longest in the world, particularly within academic institutions. Previously held in the US and Europe, this will be the first time such a competition is hosted in India. Hyperloop technology involves an electromagnetically levitating pod in a vacuum tube, reducing friction and air drag, and potentially allowing speeds of over 400 km/h.

The project, funded by Indian Railways with Rs 83.4 billion, also received support from L&T Construction, ArcelorMittal, ArcelorMittal Design and Engineering Centre, and Hindalco Industries. Professor Chakravarthy?s team is working on extending the tube to 450 meters, aiming to create the world?s longest hyperloop tube. He noted that the current global competition lacks a vacuum tube facility, and this project could shift the focus of hyperloop technology towards India. While the US previously led in this field, Europe is now actively engaging, with countries like the Netherlands developing a 400-meter tube and European companies setting up facilities in the US.

Several teams in India and Europe are working on hyperloop technology, and this competition will allow them to test their pods in a real-world scenario. Professor Chakravarthy envisions the hyperloop enabling travel from Chennai to Bengaluru in 15 minutes, although the initial goal is to achieve 600 km/h, reducing travel time to 30-35 minutes.

He hopes that with sufficient funding, hyperloop projects can be executed within five years and is in discussions with Indian Railways for additional support.

(Source: BusinessLine)