December 12, 2024
📰 FEATURE STORY
Can Hyperloops be a feasible mode of transport in India’s future?
In a world constantly seeking faster modes of transport, the Hyperloop is one of the more ambitious concepts. A global race has been underway for several years. Countries and companies are vying to make the Hyperloop a reality.
In India, a Hyperloop milestone was reached recently. After years of research and collaboration, the country’s first Hyperloop test track was completed at IIT-Madras’ Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, Tamil Nadu. The trial run reached 100km/h. It’s the beginning of a journey. The goal is to reach 600km/h. Can this be a viable mode of transport for India’s future?
Context
While the Hyperloop has largely been attributed to Elon Musk in modern times, we actually need to thank American rocket pioneer Robert Goddard. He came up with the basic concept over a century ago. Musk revived it just over a decade ago and made the idea somewhat mainstream.
He outlined the idea in a white paper. The idea was to drastically reduce travel times between major cities. He identified two problems with conventional vehicles – friction and air resistance. How do you eliminate them? The solution was passenger pods moving through partial vacuum tubes at high speeds. The original vision was to cut travel time between Los Angeles and San Francisco from eight hours by bus and four hours by train to 30 minutes.
The science behind it is revolutionary. At its core, Hyperloop is engineered to be the fastest mode of surface transportation. Passenger pods move through low-pressure tubes at speeds close to commercial airlines. The tube is sealed, and the pod is a cabin maintained at atmospheric pressure for minimal air resistance within the tube.
The initial plan was that residual air pressure within the tube would generate lift. That was replaced by the more reliable magnetic levitation (maglev) technology. Since the pods levitate above the track and are propelled using electromagnetic forces, there’s no friction. Traditional engines are unnecessary. The goal is to reach speeds close to or above 700 miles per hour.
Several countries have undertaken their own Hyperloop projects. In North America, Hyperloop TT has proposed linking Chicago, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. In Europe, it’s a collaborative approach. A Joint Technical Committee includes 20 members, including Hardt Hyperloop and Hyper Poland, to develop standardised approaches and share information across the continent.
India is a special case. In some ways, it has emerged as a frontrunner in the Hyperloop race thanks to government and private sector support to startups upbeat about the technology and possibilities. Take IIT Madras, for example. Its Avishkar Hyperloop team and the incubated startup TuTr built a 410-metre test track.
The dream is to have India’s first hyperloop line between Mumbai and Pune. The plan is to connect central Pune to Mumbai, with a stop at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. This would reduce travel time between the cities to about 25 minutes. Could this become a reality?
VIEW: Holds plenty of promise
It’s important to mention that something as radical and advanced as the Hyperloop isn’t going to happen overnight. As far as India is concerned, it’s still several years away. However, the work happening now puts the country squarely on that path. One could be pessimistic about the Hyperloop’s prospects in India. However, the fact that the Railway Ministry, the private sector (companies like L&T & ArcelorMittal), and startups are working together should dispel that notion.
The investment by the Indian Railways signifies a strategic pivot to modernise the railway transportation framework. It’s a unique bond of academic research and government backing necessary to tackle the complex logistics and regulations of implementing such advanced technology. The Hyperloop can solve two crucial problems India faces – traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Next year, all eyes will be on the recently built test track. That’s where a global, college-level Hyperloop competition will be held. It’s the first time India will host such a competition. It’s another sign of how seriously India is taking its Hyperloop ambitions. Like many countries, India is looking for faster modes of transport. We’ve already got the Vande Bharat Express. The country’s first bullet train corridor is currently being built. The Hyperloop, while posing unique challenges, is next.
COUNTERVIEW: A pipe dream
The rise and fall of Hyperloop One, backed by billionaire Richard Branson, should serve as a warning for how complicated building a Hyperloop is. The company was hailed for building the world’s first passenger ride on a high-speed levitating pod system in 2020. However, it shut down because it couldn’t secure any contracts to develop a working Hyperloop, despite raising ₹450 million since 2014. Indian startups and the government should take note. There are logistical and infrastructural challenges. India is all too familiar with the complexities of land acquisition and relocating people.
The financial investment for a functioning Hyperloop is bound to be astronomical just for the initial research and development phase. That phase is where India currently is. According to NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat, India is unlikely to opt for Hyperloop technology for high-speed trains since the technology hasn’t matured. He also mentioned that offers from foreign countries weren’t viable. If/when India does get a Hyperloop system, it’s unlikely to be used by the masses. It’ll most likely be niche and on limited routes.
There’s an interesting wrinkle concerning the Hyperloop in India. How would it be classified? What would the regulatory framework for Hyperloops look like? Is it a railway or a metro? Both of those have actual tracks the trains travel on. It’s not the case with a Hyperloop. If it doesn’t come under the ambit of any existing transportation modes, then new legislation will be needed, or existing ones be amended.
Reference Links:
- Hyperloop Transportation: The Quest for High-Speed Connectivity – TechSci Research
- India’s first Hyperloop train test track completed by IIT Madras. Key details – India Today
- IIT Madras startup may give life to Hyperloop dreams – New Indian Express
- An Elon Musk idea that didn’t work: The hyperloop is dead, for now – Hindustan Times
- India unlikely to have hyperloop trains in near future: NITI member V K Saraswat – Deccan Herald
- Hyperloop Technology: A Square Peg – Fortune India
What is your opinion on this?
(Only subscribers can participate in polls)
a) Hyperloops can be a feasible mode of transport in India’s future.
b) Hyperloops can’t be a feasible mode of transport in India’s future.
Previous poll’s results:
- The CBSE’s two-tier system for Science and Social Science is a good idea: 42.9%
- The CBSE’s two-tier system for Science and Social Science is a bad idea: 57.1% 🏆
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