IIT Madras, supported by the Ministry of Railways, has developed India’s first hyperloop test track, measuring 422 meters long. This innovative transportation system can potentially connect Delhi to Jaipur (approximately 300 km) in just 30 minutes. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted this government-academia collaboration, which aims to revolutionize travel. The hyperloop, termed the “fifth mode of transport,” utilizes electromagnetically levitating pods in vacuum tubes to achieve speeds up to Mach 1.0, over 761 mph. The railway plans to launch the first commercial project soon, further advancing this high-speed, energy-efficient travel method.
IIT Madras, with the backing of the Ministry of Railways, has successfully constructed a 422-meter-long hyperloop test track, marking a significant milestone as India’s first. This innovation allows for a remarkable journey of 350 km to be completed in just 30 minutes. Essentially, one could travel from Delhi to Jaipur, approximately 300 km apart, in less than half an hour once operational.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this exciting update on X (previously known as Twitter), stating, “Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation in futuristic transportation.”
The hyperloop initiative at @iitmadras; Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation in futuristic transportation. pic.twitter.com/S1r1wirK5o
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 24, 2025
The project, financed by the Ministry of Railways, was established within the IIT Madras Campus. Expressing his delight at the progress, Mr. Vaishnaw remarked, “The first pod of 422 meters will significantly advance technological development. I believe it’s time for the third grant of one million dollars to be awarded to IIT Madras for the ongoing advancement of the hyperloop project.”
The Railways are set to initiate the first commercial project shortly.
What Is A Hyperloop Track?
Dubbed the ‘fifth mode of transport’, the Hyperloop is a cutting-edge transportation system designed for long-distance travel. This system enables trains to reach exceedingly high speeds through specialized capsules traveling in vacuum tubes.
“It employs an electromagnetically levitating pod within a vacuum tube, effectively eliminating friction and air resistance, and potentially allowing the pod to attain speeds up to Mach 1.0,” stated an official press release.
A Mach speed is approximately 761 miles per hour at sea level under standard conditions.
“Hyperloop will be characterized by its resistance to weather conditions, collision-free travel that exceeds the speed of planes, low energy consumption, and energy storage capabilities for around-the-clock operations,” the release further explained.