Government okays Mumbai-Pune hyperloop consortium

Mumbai: The ambitious Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop Project received a fillip on Tuesday after the state government gave its approval to appoint a consortium of DP World and Hyperloop Technologies as Original Project Proponent (OPP).

Hyperloop is a mode of high-speed transportation where a pod-like vehicle travels through a tube at a speed, which is more than the speed of commercial aircraft. Once the hyperloop is ready, the four-hour journey between Mumbai and Pune will be cut down to just 30 minutes, turning the region into one megacity.

“The consortium will have to produce a project report. This will be open to debate and can be challenged by rivals. Any bidder can give his or her suggestions or objections. Finally, the best proposal will be awarded the rights to build and operate the hyperloop,” said an official.

The Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet also decided to grant the project ‘public infrastructure’ status, which will enable it to easily procure funds and concessions.

The project will be implemented in two phases — a test track on an 11.4 km corridor from Gahunje to Ozarde, followed by the 117.5 km track. Meanwhile, the state government has also allocated a 15-km stretch of land from Kiwale to Urse in Pune to build the test track.

The track as well as the rest of the hyperloop will run along the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Since the government owns most of the land along the stretch, it is likely to reduce land acquisition problems that usually delay many infrastructure projects.

According to officials, the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) is all set to float tenders for the construction by mid-August.

The project will not only improve connectivity for 26 million residents of both cities, but officials also expect 150 million people to use the service every year. If the plan goes ahead, India could be the first country in the world to officially commission a hyperloop.