JOIN USBengaluru to Chennai in 20 minutes seems to be pipe dream but Tesla/SpaceX founder Elan Musk’s Hyperloop One may as well take us on such a ride provided we vote for it.
The Los Angeles-based company has allowed people to vote on the proposed five routes, including Chennai-Bengaluru and Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram. Another route, Mumbai-Chennai, also connects Hubballi and Bengaluru to Hosur, Vellore and Sriperambadur.
The firm held a global challenge, inviting interested companies to propose routes. The 35 semi-finalists were picked from 2,600 registrations. The winner route needs to put forward a “comprehensive commercial, transport, economic, and policy case for their cities, regions or countries to be considered to host the first hyperloop networks”.
With five routes from India making it to the semi-finals, the company is holding polls on Facebook to pick the finalist. The government of India has expressed interest in the technology. However, the details of proposals, including the cost, are yet to be released.
Described as the fifth mode of transport, Hyperloop involves travelling at high speeds in low-pressure tubes. The company claims it to be a “safe, quiet, weather-proof and energy efficient” mode of transportation where a magnetically levitated vehicle is accelerated through the tube using a linear electric motor. The vehicle can move at airline speeds for long distances due to the extremely low aerodynamic drag and non-contact suspension.
The company is also working with Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) to prepare a detailed project report on high-speed magnetic levitation train, which will be submitted to the ministry by June next year.
The company is yet to test its first fully installed line in Las Vegas, which may take three more months. After the successful test of their prototype propulsion system in open air last year, the company has gained confidence.