Amid slew of BJP-declared project cancellations…



Shiv Sena

Hyperloop project

Nationalist Congress Party

Bharatiya Janata Party

The former government signed an MoU via PMRDA with Virgin Hyperloop One in 2017; the project’s first phase was to cost Rs 3,550 crore, and the next Rs 57,000 crore; ex-CM Fadnavis visited the US test site in 2018

Devendra Fadnavis

Something like hyperloop doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. It is merely at an experimental stage — we don’t even know if it will be successful. Why is government paying for this kind of experiment? — MLA Nawab Malik, NCP spokesperson

Legislative Assembly

Neelam Gorhe

Legislative Council

Amidst a slew of announcements that seek to scrap several ambitious projects pushed forth by the previous government, the brand new alliance helming Maharashtra has also cast an eye on the multi-thousand crore, highly futuristic, ‘experimental’ Mumbai-PuneIt has emerged that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government — bringing together the Shiv Sena,(NCP) and Congress — may be all set to scrap the plan that was to be implemented by Virgin Hyperloop One. Now, the project has been placed under review.Speaking to Mirror, NCP leaders questioned the intentions of the(BJP), saying it was planning such a scale of expenditure for something that is at best at an experimental stage.They also clearly stated that they will be scrapping the project till the time such experimentation comes into reality.Meanwhile, on a slightly more cautious note, Shiv Sena leaders stated that any final decision in the matter will only be made after a review.Responding to the development, BJP leaders called the move unfortunate, declaring that ‘no development will take place’ if such decisions continue.It was in 2017 that the previous BJP government, through the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US company Virgin Hyperloop One. The latter was going to conduct a preliminary study to identify potential routes and analyse the high-level economic impact and technical viability of hyperloop transportation solutions in India.According to planners, the project would make it possible to travel between Mumbai and Pune in just 14 minutes. In June 2018, then-Chief Ministerhad also visited the hyperloop test site in the US. The first phase of the project was to be 11.8--km long and cost Rs 3,550 crore; the second phase would then cost over Rs 57,000 crore. It was being touted that work on the project (experimental) would begin in 2020.However, within days of the MVA government coming to power, the Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop has come under scrutiny. This is one of numerous announcements over the last week, scrapping or putting various projects for review, including the controversial Metro car shed at Aarey Colony in Mumbai, the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway), Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, and other such major infrastructure initiatives that would require huge investment.The emphasis placed on this entire exercise by ruling leaders is that the previous dispensation in the state allegedly incurred loans worth a whopping Rs 6,71,000 crore — and this is why further investments seem to be difficult for them now. Moreover, they have indicated that all these projects were likely to be scrapped eventually anyway for the same reasons.Speaking to Mirror, NCP spokesperson and Member of(MLA) Nawab Malik said, “Something like this (hyperloop) doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. It is merely at an experimental stage — we don’t even know whether it will be successful or not. Why is government paying for this kind of experiment? There are other agencies that fund research, which happens in laboratories. The government need not be wasting money on experiments that we don’t know will become a reality. Hence, we have decided that this should be reviewed and scrapped.”According to BJP leaders, this is an “unfortunate” move. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye told Mirror, “This was a futuristic experiment that our government was trying to do. It is unfortunate if the ruling party now feels that it is a waste of money. Citizens of Pune and Mumbai will miss out on an interesting and important project if such a decision is taken.”However, there is no final word on it just yet. Shiv Sena leaders have stated that a decision will be taken post a study of the project. Shiv Sena leader, who is deputy chairman of the, said, “CM Uddhav Thackeray is reviewing the project at present. Based on the report that he receives, he will take a decision.”