India to soon host world's longest Hyperloop tube: Ashwini Vaishnaw
16 Mar 2025

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the Hyperloop test tube, which is being developed in collaboration with IIT Madras, will soon become the world's longest at 410 meters.

The facility at IIT Chennai is already Asia's longest Hyperloop test facility. Hyperloop is a high-speed train that travels through a vacuum-sealed tube.

The Minister made the announcement after visiting the testing facility on March 15 and witnessing a live demonstration of its operations.

Praise for indigenous technology development
Technological achievement

During his visit, Vaishnaw stressed that the complete testing system for Hyperloop transportation has been indigenously developed. He congratulated all the young innovators for this achievement.

The Railway Ministry has provided financial and technical support to the Hyperloop project.

The electronics technology for this project will be indigenously developed at ICF Chennai, where skilled experts have previously developed large electronics systems for Vande Bharat high-speed trains.

Vaishnaw explains Hyperloop's functioning
Operational details

Vaishnaw explained how the Hyperloop project will work, calling it a tube with a vacuum inside.

The pod running in this tube will operate in a 'levitation' mode owing to magnetic fields that lift it above the tracks.

He called the pod the "transporting mechanism" and the tube the "transportation medium."

The Minister said while still in an experimental stage, very good results are visible now for this project.

Visit to IIT Chennai campus
Ministerial engagement

Vaishnaw also visited the IIT Chennai campus in Guindy and interacted with students and young innovators.

He said he believes India will become a leading country in all sectors under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The Minister emphasized Indian youth's efficiency in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors.

He announced that the first Indian-made semiconductor will be rolled out by the end of this year.