Picture courtesy: Virgin Hyperloop One | Twitter

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to declare the Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop a public infrastructure project. The hyperloop is an ultra high-speed ground transport system comprising a network of tubes through which a pod may travel free of air resistance or friction conveying people or objects from one point to another.

When commissioned, the hyperloop will cover 117.5km distance from BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) in Mumbai to Wakad in Pune in 23 minutes.

Executed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), the project is estimated to cost Rs 70,000 crore, which will be through foreign investments in instalments.

In a press release, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the project will be in two phases.

Phase I is from Gahunje to Usse village in PMRDA region, a distance of 11.8km. This will be completed in 2.5 years and is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore, he said. If successful, phase II will cover the distance from BKC to Wakad in 6-8 years.

"The stretch for phase I has been selected as a test track because the technical challenges that can be experienced along the expressway can be found on this patch," said an official.

The cabinet approved the 'public infrastructure' tag as it would help streamline permissions for the project and also because the government has given its nod for the consortium of Hyperloop Technologies INC and DP World FZE as the project proponents.

The contractor will be approved by the Swiss Challenge Method- the design is put out for bids and anyone can offer an alternative. If the alternative is better, it is accepted.

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