ICF Chennai to develop Electronics components for India's first Hyperloop Project

New Delhi, India Metro Rail Today): Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced that the electronics components for India’s groundbreaking Hyperloop project will be developed at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. The announcement came after the Minister visited the Hyperloop testing facility at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus, where he witnessed a live demonstration of the innovative transportation system.

The Minister highlighted that the 410-meter-long Hyperloop test tube at IIT Madras is the longest Hyperloop test facility in Asia, marking a significant milestone in the development of this futuristic mode of transport. He emphasized that the entire Hyperloop testing system has been developed using indigenous technologies, a remarkable achievement for India’s innovation sector.

Speaking to the press, Shri Vaishnaw expressed his confidence that India will soon be ready to roll out Hyperloop transportation. "The testing conducted so far has yielded promising results, and we are moving towards making this revolutionary transportation system a reality," he stated.

As part of the development, the electronics technology for the Hyperloop project will now be developed at ICF Chennai, a facility known for its highly skilled experts who have successfully designed large electronics systems for India’s Vande Bharat high-speed trains. "ICF Chennai will play a crucial role in the Hyperloop project, leveraging its expertise to develop the state-of-the-art electronics required for this cutting-edge transportation technology," the Minister explained.

Shri Vaishnaw also congratulated the young innovators from IIT Madras and Avishkar for their successful testing and contributions to the project. The Minister’s visit underscores the importance of homegrown innovation and collaboration between government and academic institutions in pushing the boundaries of technology in India.

Later, the Minister visited IIT Chennai's Guindy campus to attend the Open House 2025, an exhibition organized by the Center for Innovation. During his interaction with students and young innovators, Shri Vaishnaw praised their efforts in fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors, noting that India has the largest pool of skilled youth in the world. "India is poised to become a leader in all sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and our youth will play a pivotal role in achieving this vision," he said.

The Minister also revealed that five semiconductor facilities are currently operational in the country, with the first India-made semiconductor set to be rolled out by the end of this year. He presented awards and shields to winners of the innovation competition held during the exhibition and encouraged them to continue their pioneering work in developing new inventions.

Dr. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, was also present at the event, further highlighting the importance of collaboration between academia, government, and industry in advancing India's technological landscape.

With these initiatives, India is taking bold steps towards leading the world in cutting-edge technologies, positioning itself as a global innovation hub for the future.