Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Development of Hyperloop Electronics at Chennai's ICF
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the electronics components for the ambitious Hyperloop project, developed by IIT-Madras, will be built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Vaishnaw made this announcement after his visit to the Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras' Thaiyur campus. He revealed that the 410-meter-long Hyperloop test tube is the longest of its kind in Asia and that all the technology for the system has been developed locally, with successful test results so far.
Tutr Hyperloop, a deep-tech startup incubated at IIT Madras, is working on launching the world’s first commercial Hyperloop project in India, in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. Vaishnaw congratulated the project team and highlighted that the Ministry of Railways has extended both financial and technical support to the initiative.
Vaishnaw also pointed out that experts at ICF, who were behind the electronics for the Vande Bharat high-speed trains, will now use their skills to develop the Hyperloop’s cutting-edge technology. He emphasized India’s strength in producing skilled professionals in fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors, who will help the nation become a developed country. The minister also mentioned that India now has five operational semiconductor facilities, with the first Indian-made semiconductor expected to launch by the end of this year.
IIT Madras Director, Professor V Kamakoti, praised the government’s continuous support and spoke about Hyperloop technology being a sustainable, fast, and cost-effective mode of transport. He expressed gratitude for the minister’s efforts and stressed the importance of young engineers working on these innovative technologies.
Later, Vaishnaw visited the Centre for Innovation students and the CFI Open House 2025, where nearly 1000 students from 26 teams showcased 60 cutting-edge technology innovations. These projects demonstrate the potential of India’s youth in shaping the future of technology.
