technological and commercial viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology. It is relevant to explore technological, commercial, financial (viability) and (assess) safety standards and regulations to procure new technology. It has been decided to constitute an Expert Committee.”

With V.K. Saraswat as the Chairman and Adviser (Infrastructure Connectivity, NITI Aayog), the committee includes Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha as its convener. The other members include Railway Board Chairman & CEO V.K. Yadav, the secretaries of the ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Road Transport and Highways, and the Maharashtra government’s Transport Secretary, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Chairman, the Delhi Metro’s Managing Director, the IIT-Delhi Director and the Chairman (Technology Information) of the forecasting and assessment council.

Stating about the mandate of the committee, the document releases, “To study Virgin hyperloop technology and its commercial viability, (and) safety, regulation and finalise the document within six months’ time of its first meeting.”

In the previous month, Virgin Hyperloop announced a partnership with Bengaluru International Airport for conducting a feasibility study for a proposed hyperloop corridor from the airport. And now, NITI Aayog stepping in claims that the report of the committee could act as a roadmap for paving the way forward for hyperloop in the country.