SUMMARY
Bangalore International Airport Limited and Virgin Hyperloop on Sunday signed a MoU to conduct a feasibility study
The move is aimed at finding ways to tackle congestion and supporting economic growth in Bengaluru
Preliminary analysis shows that with speeds of up to 1,080kmph, hyperloop could transport thousands of passengers per hour from the airport to the city centre in under 10 minutes
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and Virgin Hyperloop on Sunday (September 27) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed hyperloop corridor from the Kempegowda International Airport to the city.
The move is aimed at finding ways to tackle congestion and supporting economic growth in Bengaluru, officials said. The MoU agrees on the pre-feasibility study, which focuses on technical, economic and route feasibility, is expected to be completed in two phases of six months each, an official release stated.
The MoU, exchanged virtually between Sultan bin Sulayem, chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and DP World, and TM Vijay Bhaskar, chief secretary of Karnataka government and chairman of the board of directors at BIAL.
“We are honoured to partner with Bangalore International Airport Limited to explore ways in which hyperloop can become a part of the solution to tackle congestion and support economic growth in Bengaluru,” Sultan Bin Sulayem said.
“Beyond just the transit of passengers, airports are a crucial conduit for goods, especially time-sensitive deliveries. A hyperloop-connected airport would dramatically improve the delivery of cargo and create an ultra-efficient supply chain,” he added.
BIAL CMD Hari Marar said the hyperloop mode of transportation promises “enormous economic potential, connecting passengers at unprecedented speeds, with zero emissions.”
Preliminary analysis shows that with speeds of up to 1,080kmph, hyperloop could transport thousands of passengers per hour from the airport to the city centre in under 10 minutes, the release stated.
The state’s chief secretary said that the Karnataka government has implemented several measures to improve the transport infrastructure of the state.
The commissioning of a feasibility study for hyperloop connectivity from BLR Airport is another major step towards building the infrastructure required to define mobility for the future, enabling the efficient movement of people, Bhaskar said.
In addition to the road network, the airport will also be connected with the suburban railway soon and will have Metro connectivity in four years.
The release said travellers could streamline their multi-modal trip with a seamless check-in and security for both their hyperloop as well as air travel at centrally-located hyperloop portals.
Some of the avenues where hyperloop could contribute are:
- Linking Bengaluru’s city center, IT hubs and industrial parks on the city’s periphery, by improving connections between fast-growing industrial hubs within the state such as Tumakuru, Hubli-Dharwad, Hosur, and Bengaluru.
- Providing Bengaluru’s thriving tech and manufacturing employers with greater access to talent and enabling citizens to commute 10X farther in the same amount of time.
- Improving air travel accessibility by connecting Bengaluru’s airport to the city center in minutes
- Creating freight corridors with surrounding cities, eventually extending to Chennai helping manufacturers to deliver freight to the closest port
Virgin Hyperloop One: Navigating The Indian Dream
Virgin Hyperloop One was earlier known as Hyperloop One and was recently rebranded after receiving backing from the billionaire Richard Branson. The company was co-founded by Executive Co-Chairman Shervin Pishevar and CTO Josh Giegel, and is led by CEO Rob Lloyd. It also counts Elon Musk as its backer.
The company envisions a national hyperloop network that integrates seamlessly by linking nearly 75+ Mn people across the three metropolitan areas of the States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh to transform the transportation infrastructure in India
As claimed by the company in an official statement, its technology strongly aligns with India’s planned industrial and economic corridors and will show potential promise in terms of transit-oriented development to accelerate the country’s economic growth.
Apart from these three regions, the company also eyes further expansion to other Indian regions.
