Virgin Hyperloop- BIAL inks airport corridor pact

Virgin Hyperloop and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) have signed a first-of-its-kind MoU to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed hyperloop corridor from BLR Airport to the city centre. The pre-feasibility study, which focuses on technical, economic and route feasibility, is expected to be completed in 2 phases of six months each. With speeds of up to 1,080-kph, the hyperloop could transport thousands of passengers per hour from BLR Airport to the city centre in less than 10 minutes. As of now, traveling from the heart of the city to the airport, which is located, takes close to 3 hours.

The MoU was signed between Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop, and DP World, and T.M. Vijay Bhaskar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka and Chairman of the Board of Directors at BIAL. "The company is honored to partner with Bangalore International Airport Limited to explore ways in which hyperloop can become a part of the solution to tackle congestion and support economic growth in Bengaluru," said Sultan bin Sulayem, adding that beyond just the transit of passengers, airports are a crucial conduit for goods, especially time-sensitive deliveries. A hyperloop-connected airport would dramatically improve the delivery of cargo and create an ultra-efficient supply chain.

BIAL in a statement said that making Bangalore airport a transportation hub that connects people and places together through various modes of transport, in addition to its well-established road network, will help connect the BLR Airport with the sub-urban railway shortly and it will have Metro connectivity in four years.