New Delhi: Hyperloop pioneers Swisspod Technologies (Switzerland), and TuTr Hyperloop (India) have come together with the governments of Switzerland and India to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainable, high-speed transportation solutions in India.
Held at the Swiss Residence in New Delhi, the signing ceremony was hosted by Dr. Ralf Heckner, the Swiss Ambassador to India and Bhutan, and the Chief Guest of the ceremony was Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board of India.
The primary objective of the MoU is to establish a robust framework for cooperation in the development and deployment of hyperloop technology within India, laying the ground for future sustainable mobility.
Swisspod and TuTr Hyperloop, will pool their expertise and resources to accelerate research, testing, and innovation in the field, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable progression of hyperloop systems. The companies are planning to explore and assess potential commercial hyperloop transportation routes in India, and develop a strategic blueprint for financing and constructing the system.
In a joint effort, Swisspod and TuTr Hyperloop will spearhead the design and funding of a testing center in India, serving as a hub for refining hyperloop technology, facilitating various experiments, and validating its feasibility in real-world conditions.
“Government support and incoming investments are driving the ongoing transformation of Indian Railways such that today we have upgraded processes and infrastructure to include semi-high speed trains like Vande Bharat. We will continue to work on incorporating technologies to further build our capacity and I am positive that in the coming decade we will be able to greatly enhance aspects like passenger experience and cargo transit guarantee. It is important not to lose sight of developments that will shape the future of transportation and Hyperloop is an exciting step towards breaking the high-speed transport mold. Safety is paramount and I am sure merging of tracks between great minds and productive energies of India and Switzerland will continue to prioritize it in the development of this technology”, Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board of India, said.”We are delighted that companies such as Swisspod Technologies are already paving the path for the private sector’s leadership in implementing the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement signed recently between the EFTA countries and India. With the right policy support and FTA agreement framework, I am positive that the economic ties between Switzerland and India will continue to strengthen. Hyperloop is an example of the emerging and exciting technologies of the future and we need to work together to realize the potential of these innovations for the betterment of society”, Swiss Ambassador Dr. Ralf Heckner said.
“TuTr Hyperloop is leveraging the IIT Madras ecosystem and working towards the development of an affordable, homegrown hyperloop solution with generous support from the Ministry of Railways. To realize this objective, TuTr has established a strong working relationship with strategic partners from the Indian industry to develop a full tech stack sub-scale pod prototype. This pod will be operational in the hyperloop test infrastructure facility that is being created at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus. I am very excitedabout this partnership with Swisspod which is a significant milestone in our journey that has the potential to hasten the introduction of a sustainable high-speed mobility system from India, for the world” – Dr. Aravind Bharadwaj, Co-Founder and CTO, TuTr Hyperloop, said.
The signing of the memorandum reinforces the alliance between Switzerland and India within the mobility sector. Both countries exhibit a mutual focus to fostering innovation aimed at tackling challenges and seizing opportunities in modernizing the railway system and embracing intelligent, sustainable transportation solutions.
“Switzerland and India have consistently enhanced their strategic partnership in the realm of the transportation sector. The signing of this MoU further fortifies the bonds between our nations and underscores our shared commitment to transformative progress. We are honored to contribute to this thriving alliance by advancing and deploying the hyperloop technology in India, transforming its transportation system and setting a global benchmark for innovation and sustainability”, Denis Tudor, CEO of Swisspod, said.
