A US-based firm Virgin Hyperloop One have tied up a pact with Maharashtra government to build a hyperloop transportation system between Mumbai to Pune, which would reduce the travel time between the two megacities to just 25 minutes from three hours at present. The first hyperloop route will make Mumbai-Pune travel faster than ever before.
Virgin Hyperloop One’s (VHO’s) chairman Richard Branson, who is in Mumbai for the Magnetic Maharashtra summit, said that his company had signed an intent agreement with the state government of Maharashtra to develop a Hyperloop.
"We have signed an agreement with Maharashtra to build a Virgin Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune, beginning with an operational demonstration track in the region," Branson said. "The proposed Hyperloop transportation system will transform the transportation system and make Maharashtra a global pioneer in the space. The socioeconomic benefits of the project is USD 55 billion,"
Richard claimed that it reduces travel times between the cities "I believe Virgin Hyperloop One could have the same impact upon India in the 21st century as trains did in the 20th century. The Pune-Mumbai route is an ideal first corridor as part of a national hyperloop network that will dramatically reduce travel times between most of India’s major cities to under two hours."
He said that the near supersonic travel would not only dramatically cut down the travel time, but will also help reduce accidents.
Details such as the project cost, fare charges and a timeline yet to be announced. The Hyperloop route will be a fully electric system and will have the capability travel up to 1,000 km per hour.
"The Pune-Mumbai hyperloop project will ultimately be executed by a public-private partnership which will save taxpayer money while delivering a transport option that will help the State of Maharashtra support economic growth, improve sustainability, and meet the transport demands," said Kiran Gitte, CEO of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
The concept of Hyperloop popularised by Elon Musk. The project was to develop a high speed, intercity transporter using a low-pressure tube train which would reach a top speed of 800 miles per hour (1,300 km/h) with a yearly capacity of 15 million passengers.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated Maharashtra govt and said, "51 percent of total investments in India have come to Maharashtra, and the state is attracting global investors. The state's overall development in the past few years is a shining example of change thinking and improving conditions in the country. Maharashtra government was ahead of all other Indian states in terms of infrastructure spend and the state is on its way to achieving its bold vision of a trillion-dollar economy."
