In a recent development, the Maharashtra Government conferred infrastructure status to the Mumbai-Pune ultra-fast Hyperloop transport project that is proposed to cut short the travel time between the two cities seek to 23 minutes.
The State cabinet sanctioned a proposal to offer infrastructure status to the project, at a meeting in Mumbai. The cabinet also gave nod to form a consortium of DP World FZE and Hyperloop Technologies, as proponents of the original project, the statement from Chief Minister’s office said.
Hyperloop is an ultra-modern, superfast transport project, which is proposed to link Mumbai and Pune as these cities are located approximately 200 kms apart. The Hyperloop will ply from Mumbai’s BKC to Wakad in Pune and will cover a total distance of 117.5 kms. Also, the Hyperloop train will run at a speed of 496 kms per hour and will reach the destination in just 23 minutes, the statement said.
Presently, the trains take three-and-a-half to four hours travel time for commuting between the two cities.
The project will be completed in seven years and the estimated cost to be incurred for the same is Rs. 70,000 crores, the statement said. The Hyperloop will be constructed in a phased manner and in the first phase, the 11.8 kms long stretch in the Pune Metropolitan region will run as a pilot project at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crores, it added.
Earlier to this, the Maharashtra Government went into an intent agreement with the Virgin Group for a hyperloop transportation system, which will reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Pune.