CHENNAI, 21st September 2026: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) partnered with Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, to host Parivahan 2.0 – Global Hyperloop Summit to advance high-speed, sustainable transport.

The Summit brought together stakeholders from government, ports, railways, logistics, industry, academia and research to discuss the development of Hyperloop technology and its potential applications in transportation and logistics.

Held at its ‘Discovery’ satellite Campus in Thaiyur near Chennai on Saturday (19th Sept 2026), a key highlight of the Summit was the signing of an agreement between TuTr Hyperloop and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), marking an important step towards strengthening industry participation in developing Hyperloop-related technologies.

Through Parivahan 2.0, IIT Madras and its partners provided a platform for researchers, students, policymakers and industry stakeholders to exchange perspectives, explore collaborations and discuss pathways for advancing Hyperloop technologies and their potential applications in India’s future transportation and logistics systems.

Addressing the event virtually, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “Under the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is building towards a modern, clean, green and high-speed logistics network as we work towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Emerging technologies such as Hyperloop can play an important role in connecting ports with logistics parks, warehouses, industrial clusters and inland freight terminals, enabling faster and more efficient movement of cargo. I am particularly pleased to see the progress at Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, with TuTr Hyperloop's LIM technology demonstrator, followed by the Maglev technology. It represents a historic step in taking this technology from the laboratory to the port, and from technology demonstration towards commercialisation.”

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal added, “This collaboration demonstrates how Indian deep tech can be developed, tested and taken towards real-world deployment. This is the collaborative model India needs: academia, industry and user organisation working together. It is the true spirit of Make in India: innovate in India, build in India, and take Indian technology to the world. As we move towards Viksit Bharat 2047, our ambition should be to move beyond technology demonstration and work towards a full-scale cargo Hyperloop system as part of India's future logistics network. I hope student teams from India and across the world will develop concepts that can find real-world applications in ports, freight and logistics.”

‘FIFTH MODE OF TRANSPORT’

Often described as the ‘fifth mode of transport’, Hyperloop is an emerging high-speed transportation system in which electromagnetically levitating pods travel through low-pressure or vacuum tubes. By reducing friction and air resistance, the technology has the potential to enable high-speed movement of passengers and freight, with applications in logistics, port connectivity and sustainable mobility.

Addressing the Summit, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Hyperloop has been very close to the heart of IIT Madras. It was the first big interdisciplinary project we saw, with 72 members spread across six or seven departments, and the first barrier we have broken is that we have made several departments talk to each other. If we have our own technology, we are surely going to succeed. No standard is going to be acceptable on paper; we must demonstrate it on real platforms, and we have a platform here. I want to see the day when there are bookings for the tube and teams are competing to use it. I would also like TuTr Hyperloop to bring Hyperloop clubs to IITs across India and to develop skill-development courses on structures, levitation, propulsion and related areas, which we can offer on SWAYAM and SWAYAM Plus.”

The Summit examined how Hyperloop could be integrated into future transportation networks, particularly for freight movement, port-to-hinterland connectivity and logistics. Discussions also addressed the technological, infrastructure, regulatory and commercial requirements for developing a Hyperloop ecosystem in India.

Highlighting the research and technology development aspects, Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, Faculty Advisor, IIT Madras, said, “As we prepare for the third edition of the Global Hyperloop Competition in 2027, a significant milestone is its integration with Shaastra, IIT Madras’ annual technical festival. While the competition was successfully conducted in 2024 and 2025 through student-led efforts, its inclusion within Shaastra provides a strong institutional framework and ensures continuity for years to come. This enables the competition to grow sustainably while expanding its global reach. Technology is inherently global, and by bringing the Global Hyperloop Competition under the Shaastra umbrella, we are creating a platform that can connect students, researchers, innovators and industry from around the world to advance the future of transportation technologies.”

Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority, added, “There are numerous use cases across different sectors of the economy where Hyperloop technology can create value. The Global Hyperloop Competition serves as an important platform that brings together innovators, technology developers, students, researchers, user departments and industry to explore the possibilities and viability of Hyperloop-based transportation solutions. GHC 2027 will provide a global platform for students, universities, researchers and startups from around the world to develop new ideas and demonstrate the potential of next-generation transportation.”

BRINGING GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA TOGETHER

The programme featured addresses by senior representatives from IIT Madras, TuTr Hyperloop, Deendayal Port Authority, Central Warehousing Corporation, Southern Railways and BEML. Representatives and experts from CONCOR, NTPCWC, IITM Pravartak Foundation, GalaxEye, The ePlane Company, L&T, SYSTRA, AVL India and other organisations also participated.

The discussions covered Hyperloop technology and infrastructure; freight and logistics; ports and transportation connectivity; digital and smart transportation systems; sustainability and green mobility; policy, regulation and industry collaboration; AI, automation and future mobility; deeptech innovation and commercialisation; and student innovation.

The technical sessions focused on key components of Hyperloop systems.

Prof. R. K. Shrivastava, IIT (BHU), delivered a technical address on Linear Induction Motor Applications, including work undertaken at IIT (BHU). Dr. Shinde, Outstanding Scientist, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, spoke on Magnetic Levitation, a core technology for enabling contactless movement of Hyperloop pods. These sessions provided participants with insights into the engineering principles, research challenges and technological opportunities associated with Hyperloop development.

Four panel discussions on the opportunities and challenges of a Hyperloop ecosystem were also discussed

The Summit concluded with a discussion on “Way Forward – Industry, Government & Academia Collaboration”, focusing on potential areas for continued cooperation among stakeholders.