‘Redefining logistics': Maharashtra inks deal with IIT Madras startup to build hyperloop between JNPT, Vadhavan Port

Indian Express

20 hours ago

Hyperloop, a transport technology still being tested in labs across the world, may soon debut on Maharashtra's coastline as a high-speed cargo corridor from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai to the upcoming Vadhavan Port in Palghar district.
The state government Tuesday signed a strategic pact with TuTr Hyperloop Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech startup incubated at IIT Madras, to build a Linear Induction Motor (LIM)-based hyperloop mobility system between JNPT and Vadhavan Port.
Unveiled in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya, the government's administrative headquarters, the project is part of a larger investment push that saw Maharashtra sign 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 42,892 crore with the potential to generate 25,892 jobs.
But amid various commitments in solar, steel, real estate and data centres, it was the hyperloop pact that stood out — not just for its scale, but its ambition to test a technology that no country has yet deployed commercially.
Fadnavis called the hyperloop pact a symbol of Maharashtra's willingness to embrace transformative infrastructure. 'Hyperloop is not merely a transport system. It is a disruptive idea that can redefine logistics, mobility and economic geography. With IIT Bombay and IIT Madras supporting the effort, Maharashtra will lead the country in testing and scaling this transformative technology,' he said.
He added that the state would ensure 'end-to-end support' to investors, and positioned the project as part of a larger push to make Maharashtra a hub for digital, green and futuristic industries.
Hyperloop, first popularised by entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2013, is an ultra-high-speed transport system where pods carrying passengers or cargo move through low-pressure tubes. By cutting air resistance to near zero and using propulsion technologies like magnetic levitation or Linear Induction Motors, Hyperloop promises airline speeds on the ground — theoretically over 1,000 kmph — but with lower energy use and minimal emissions.
So far, hyperloop remains largely experimental, with test tracks in the US, Europe and the Middle East. No country has built an operational corridor yet. Maharashtra's pact with TuTr therefore places it among the earliest government-backed testbeds worldwide.
Officials said ports were chosen because they represent India's most pressing logistics challenge: moving cargo quickly and efficiently.
Located in Navi Mumbai, JNPT is India's largest container port, handling over 55 per cent of the country's containerised cargo. Congestion on road and rail links has long slowed the evacuation of goods from the port, pushing up costs and delays. A hyperloop corridor could allow containers to move to logistics hubs in minutes rather than hours, reducing turnaround time dramatically.
Vadhavan Port, planned as a deep-draft greenfield port in Palghar, is being designed to handle 250 million tonnes of cargo annually and berth the world's largest container vessels. Integrating hyperloop from the start, officials said, would give Vadhavan a world-class, future-ready edge — positioning it as one of the most advanced maritime hubs in Asia.
The TuTr Hyperloop startup was founded by researchers and engineers and incubated at IIT Madras, one of India's top engineering institutions. TuTr is among the few Indian companies attempting to build indigenous hyperloop technology.
Its pact with Maharashtra is its first major applied project, with the potential to showcase India's ability to develop futuristic mobility solutions rather than import them. Officials said IIT Bombay would also lend expertise to the effort, alongside IIT Madras.
Alongside the hyperloop pact, the state signed a clutch of agreements across solar, data, steel, energy and real estate, reflecting the government's push to project Maharashtra as both a digital and green hub.
The largest single commitment came from Prestige Estates Projects Ltd, which pledged an investment of Rs 12,500 crore to develop data centres, logistics facilities and real estate projects — a move expected to generate 8,700 jobs. In the renewable sector, Jupiter International Ltd signed an agreement worth Rs 10,900 crore for setting up solar panel manufacturing, bringing with it more than 8,300 new jobs.
The data centre ecosystem — which the government hopes will cement Maharashtra's tag as 'India's data capital' — saw three significant investors: Webmint Digital Pvt Ltd (Rs 4,846 crore, 2,050 jobs), Rovison Tech Hub Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,564 crore, 1,100 jobs) and Rochak Systems Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,508 crore, 1,000 jobs).
In heavy industry, Vow Iron & Steel Pvt Ltd committed Rs 4,300 crore to expand steel capacity, promising 1,500 jobs, while Swedish multinational Atlas Copco will invest Rs 575 crore in the state's industrial equipment sector, generating 3,400 jobs. Clean energy player LNK Green Energy signed up for Rs 4,700 crore, aimed at developing green power projects that could employ 2,500 people.
Together, these commitments — worth Rs 42,892 crore and spread across traditional manufacturing, renewables, real estate and cutting-edge digital infrastructure — underline the state's attempt to balance immediate job creation with futuristic bets like hyperloop.