Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, the crowdsourced Hyperloop company has just signed on India who is interested in building a Hyperloop. This comes after signing a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with both South Korea and Indonesia. The deal was signed between the company and the state government of Andhra Pradesh. The aim is to build a loop to connect a 43.4km distance between the two cities of Vijaywada and Amaravati.
“We are extremely delighted to have entered into a MoU with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to bring the HTT Hyperloop to India,” said HTT chairman Bibop Gresta.
There will be two phases to this agreement, where the first phase is a 6-month feasibility study followed by the next phase where construction actually begins. As with the other MoU’s that has been signed, it gives HTT the freedom to investigate better routes for the system as well.
The two cities currently face an issue where the 43.4km journey will take about 70 minutes. With a Hyperloop in place, that short distance can be covered within 6 minutes instead. In theory, the Hyperloop is meant to travel at speeds of more than a 1000 kph but for this, they are looking at one that travels at around 400 kph.
No cash amounts have been mentioned although what we do know is that the deal is structured as a public-private partnership. The state government hopes that this deal would help boost the economy especially with a fast transportation network between the two cities. Also, with the construction of the Hyperloop, that should also help increase jobs for the locals as well.
Now, as Malaysia is looking at a high-speed rail network, it seems that both our neighbours Indonesia and India will leapfrog us with their own Hyperloop. Only if it works out of course.
[Source: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies & TechCrunch]
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