ArcelorMittal has revealed a joint initiative with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, to develop Asia's first Hyperloop test track. In this collaboration, ArcelorMittal and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS) will provide crucial steel materials, engineering support, design expertise, and project management guidance for the construction of the Hyperloop test track. The track will be located at IIT Madras' 163-acre Discovery campus in Thaiyur, on the outskirts of Chennai, signifying a noteworthy development in the area's transportation infrastructure.
ArcelorMittal is teaming up with IIT Madras's Avishkar Hyperloop student team, TuTr Hyperloop startup, and the Ministry of Railways. This collaboration entails the provision of 400 tonnes of steel by ArcelorMittal and AM/NS to construct a 400-meter vacuum tube at the site. Engineers from AMDEC, ArcelorMittal's design and engineering arm, will supervise the project, which aims to launch the Hyperloop test facility by the end of Q1, 2024.
The primary aim of the initiative is to progress and commercialize Hyperloop technologies for fast, cost-efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable transportation, as stated in the announcement. ArcelorMittal's Chief Technology Officer, Pinakin Chaubal, expressed excitement about the collaboration, underscoring the significance of IIT Madras' technological advancements and TuTr Hyperloop's potential to lead the transformative mobility sector. He emphasized the crucial role of steel in fostering innovation within the Hyperloop ecosystem.