Pune: Going a step further in making a dream come true for residents of Mumbai and Pune, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyperloop One, a Los Angeles-based company which is working to set up a hyperloop between Pune and Mumbai to reduce the transit time to less than 20 minutes.
As per a press release issued by PMRDA, the MoU was signed by PMRDA Chief Executive Officer Kiran Gitte and Nick Earle, Senior Vice President, Global Field Operations, Hyperloop Technologies, in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The hyperloop technology makes use of pods via electro-magnetic propulsion through a low-pressure tube to carry passengers. "It is fast, direct to destination transport mode having speed up to 670 MPH (1,080 km/h). Hyperloop is cost-effective, efficient, safe and reliable transport system which can be developed at a two-third cost of high-speed rail systems," the press release stated.
The company will be doing a six weeks pre-feasibility study with PMRDA on issues of traffic, land allocation and other details. The PMRDA will coordinate with all departments of the State government as well as municipal corporations to obtain the passenger traffic and other relevant data for the study. The reports will then be submitted to the Maharashtra government for acceptance.
Speaking on this occasion, Fadnavis said that hyperloop is the future of Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) developed for demands of 21st Century. "It requires high-density traffic for making it a viable mode of rapid public transport. It will help connect metropolitan regions of Mumbai and Pune by reducing travel time to less than 20 minutes. The project will benefit more than 2 crore population in Mumbai – Pune region," added Fadnavis.
In India, Maharashtra has joined Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to adopt hyperloop technology, where recently a MoU was signed for a feasibility study of hyperloop in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The hyperloop technology is in a nascent stage.
