Hyperloop, instead of bullet trains could be the future of Indian transport

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), a US startup working on an ultra-fast rail system apparently may reach India soon. The company which works on the concept envisioned by billionaire Elon Musk is in talks with the Indian government to bring the technology and begin trials for their high-speed transportation technology in the country.

“It’s in his (Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s) hand to sign. There is no pressure but he said publicly that he wants to give us the land. We are very happy to address a country like India that has the right amount of density, lack of infrastructure and the willingness for innovation,” Bibop Gresta, chairman of HTT, told ET.

HTT submitted a letter of intent to Transport Minister about two weeks ago and is awaiting a response. Once the Indian government signs the letter of intent, the company will need around eight months to conduct a feasibility study, according to Gresta. “Then after we get land permits, we can build a technically feasible Hyperloop in 38 months,” he said.

HTT’s sudden interest in India goes back to Gadkari’s US visit where he invited the company to India, also offering a big chunk of land in Pune.

The Hyperloop train system propels a capsule-like vehicle through a tube at the speed of an aircraft. It is being designed to be used to transport passengers and freight.

Gresta believes Hyperloop are much better options than the Bullet trains proposed by PM Narendra Modi. “You are going to spend $12 billion on a bullet train? Put $1 billion in Hyperloop and you will never need a bullet train,” he said.

“The Hyperloop will run on renewable energy. There will be solar panels on the top of the tube, wind turbines in the pylons. We will generate more energy than we need. It would be like having a power plant that also transports people. That and advertising means you can run a profitable business,” he added.