MUMBAI: Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, conducted a visit to IIT Madras‘ Hyperloop Facility at the Discovery Satellite Campus in Thaiyur near Chennai, accompanied by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, and other researchers.
In May 2022, the Railway Ministry allocated Rs 8.34 crore to IIT Madras for developing and validating the hyperloop transportation system. During his visit, Vaishnaw engaged with ePlane, an IIT Madras-incubated start-up developing India’s First Flying Electric Taxi. He also visited the main campus to interact with researchers working on SHAKTI Microprocessor and students from the Centre For Innovation.
Expressing his appreciation, Vaishnaw stated, “This place is so full of so much energy that I cannot describe it. I’m so happy to see young, energetic engineers working on this new technology and doing new experiments. We are providing only small help. I think that this will really lead us to some good solutions for the country, for our people, for our start-ups and for the world of technology as well.”
He further added, “We will extend whatever support is needed. I am just a message away. I am the 72nd member of the Avishkar team. Let us be very focused on the quality, safety and how do we scale up this entire experiment once we do prototypes. Keep that ultimate goal in mind.” Prof. V. Kamakoti responded, “Hyperloop is undoubtably the next generation transportation technology that is sustainable, fast and cost-effective. IIT Madras is extremely grateful to the Hon’ble Minister of Railways for his continuous support to ensure the successful development of this technology.”
IIT Madras has contributed significantly to hyperloop research over seven years, featuring Asia’s longest operational student-run hyperloop test facility of 422 metres at Discovery Campus. The institute recently hosted Asia’s first Global Hyperloop Competition with Railway Ministry support.
TuTr Hyperloop, incubated at IIT Madras, plans to launch the world’s first commercial hyperloop project in India, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047. Hyperloop technology enables high-speed travel in near-vacuum tubes, allowing speeds exceeding 1000 km/h. The concept was introduced by Elon Musk in 2013 through ‘Hyperloop Alpha.’
The ePlane Company is advancing urban transport through electric vertical takeoff and landing technology. It develops flying taxis, air ambulances, and cargo utilities, holding several patents and DGCA approval for electric aircraft design. Their innovative approach enables extended flight range at reduced speeds using vertical rotors for enhanced lift.
Established by Prof. Satya Chakravarthy in 2019, the company employs over 100 professionals, including multiple PhD holders and Masters graduates from prestigious institutions. They are currently testing cargo aircraft for metropolitan areas, focusing on practical implementation of aerial transport solutions.
Vaishnaw reviewed the ‘SHAKTI’ project, India’s pioneering indigenous microprocessor initiative by IIT Madras’s RISE group. The project aims to develop comprehensive processing solutions under Prof. V. Kamakoti’s leadership. Recently, IIT Madras and ISRO created the ‘IRIS’ chip, derived from SHAKTI architecture, suitable for various applications including strategic systems.
The institute has demonstrated leadership in RISC-V development through the SHAKTI Processor Family. It collaborated with MeitY and industry partners to organise the Second Digital India RISC-V Symposium in March 2025 at IIT Madras Research Park.
The DIR-V Symposium 2025 served as a platform for advancing India’s semiconductor independence, aligning with national initiatives. The event united global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss RISC-V innovations and India’s semiconductor development plans.
IIT Madras established the RISC-V Knowledge Center and actively partners with industry and government for computing solutions. Vaishnaw attended the CFI Open House 2025, which displayed 60 technological innovations by student teams.
The Centre for Innovation, one of India’s largest student-run labs, comprises various technical clubs and competition teams, providing a platform for showcasing student projects to industry representatives and alumni.