NEW DELHI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2020) An ambitious project to build a Hyperloop superfast transport link between the Indian cities of Mumbai and Pune has been shelved by the Maharashtra government, as state officials wait for a successful example to be constructed elsewhere, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar said.
"We do not have the capacity to experiment with Hyperloop. We will concentrate on other modes of transport and in the meantime, if that technology develops more with successful trials abroad, we can think about it," Pawar told reporters on Friday, as quoted by the India Today magazine.
The transport infrastructure, due to be built by the Virgin Hyperloop One company, is one of three Hyperloop links set to be constructed, according to the firm's website. Links connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as the US cities of Las Vegas and Los Angeles have also been proposed.
Pawar outlined that the Maharashtra state government would wait for the construction of other Hyperloop links before further committing to the Pune-Mumbai project.
"Let it happen somewhere else. Let it become successful for at least a 10 km [6.2 miles] distance somewhere abroad," Pawar stated, as quoted by the magazine.
The Hyperloop transport system was developed by US entrepreneur and investor Elon Musk, a prominent figure in the evolution of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, in 2012. According to proposals, the technology will allow for passengers and freight to travel in depressurized, vacuum-sealed tubes at speeds of up to 760 miles per hour.
