India's first Hyperloop test track, spanning 410 m, was successfully completed by IIT Madras. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), announcing the completion of the track. He mentioned that the test track, located at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, was a collaborative effort between the Railways, IIT Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop team, and the TuTr incubated startup. The Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system where pods, designed as pressurized vehicles, move through low-pressure tubes at exceptional speeds. These pods can carry 24-28 passengers directly between destinations without any intermediate stops, offering a highly efficient solution for point-to-point travel. The first full-scale Hyperloop project in India is expected to be the Mumbai-Pune route, with the goal of reducing travel time between the two cities to just twenty-five minutes. Despite these advancements, the project is still in its early stages of development. Hyperloop trains are designed to reach speeds of up to 1,100 km/h, with an operational cruising speed of around 360 km/h. The cost per kilometer for a Hyperloop in India is estimated to be approximately Rs 1.5 billion. The key features of Hyperloop include: • High speeds: The pods can achieve ultra-high speeds due to a combination of contactless levitation, propulsion systems, and a low-pressure environment. • Energy efficiency: Hyperloop is fully electric and energy-efficient, allowing it to transport passengers and goods at a fraction of the energy consumption of traditional transportation systems. • Vacuum tubes: The system uses low-pressure tubes with built-in vacuums to reduce air resistance and friction. • Reduced congestion: Hyperloop could significantly reduce road congestion. • Reduced noise pollution: The system is also expected to cut down on air and noise pollution.