IIT Madras Unveils India’s First Hyperloop Test Track, Secures Another $1 Million Grant—Delhi To Jaipur In Just 30 Minutes?

India has taken a significant leap in futuristic transportation with the successful development of its first hyperloop test track at IIT Madras, marking a major milestone in high-speed travel, according to NDTV report.

The 422 metre long test facility, built with the support of the Ministry of Railways, is a crucial step towards achieving ultra-fast travel, potentially reducing the Delhi-Jaipur journey—a distance of around 300 km—to less than 30 minutes.

Announcing the achievement on X, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hailed the collaboration between the government and academia.

The project, funded by the Ministry of Railways, is set to receive further grants to accelerate development.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Vaishnaw remarked, "The first pod of 422 meters will go a long way in developing technologies. I think the time has come when, after the first two grants of one million dollars each, the third grant of one million dollars will be given to IIT Madras for further developing the hyperloop project."

Dubbed the "fifth mode of transport," the hyperloop is a cutting-edge, high-speed transportation system designed for long-distance travel.

It features a magnetically levitated pod inside a vacuum tube, eliminating friction and air resistance, allowing it to reach astonishing speeds of up to Mach 1.0 (761 mph).

According to an official press release, the hyperloop promises several groundbreaking advantages, including weather immunity, collision-free travel, speeds twice that of an airplane, and low energy consumption with 24-hour operational capability.