Punekar Tanay Manjrekar Is The First Indian to Ride On Hyperloop

Mehab Qureshi

Pune, November 10, 2020: The first successful human test of the High-Speed Pod System was conducted at the Virgin Hyperloop’s Las Vegas Center in the United States. Tanay Manjrekar, an engineer originally from Pune who worked with Virgin Hyperloop, had participated in the second test on Monday. The success of the human trials has led to the resumption of the proposed Pune-Mumbai Hyperloop project.

Renowned entrepreneur Richard Branson’s ‘Virgin Hairploop’ is trying to create a system that will revolutionize the field of transportation. In this regard, the first human test was conducted on Sunday after successfully completing 400 unmanned tests so far at a center set up in Las Vegas. Hyperloop’s Chief Technology Officer Josh Gegel and Director (Passenger Experience) Sarah Lucian were among those present.

Another test was conducted again on Monday after Sunday. Manjrekar, a native of Pune, who works in the power electronics department in Hyperloop, got the opportunity. “While working for Hyperloop, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the ride on it,” said Manjrekar who has been working with ‘Hyperloop’ since 2016.

The human test was carried out on a five-meter long and 3.3-meter wide track erected by Virgin Hyperloop at their test center. All the officers of ‘Hyperloop’ were fitted in a pod specially developed for this test. The pod was then placed on the track, and the ‘pod’ was tested with due care and attention. This pod is a small version of the company’s 28-seater XP-2 Pegasus model. According to the Virgin Hyperloop, the first test was conducted at a speed of 160 km per hour.

The agreement was signed between the Virgin Hyperloop and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) during the tenure of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Accordingly, a hyperloop project was to be implemented on 117 km between Pune and Mumbai. Prior to that, a 15 km test track was to be developed. However, after the state’s transition last year, the Mahavikasaghadi had declared that it was not possible to implement this costly project. As a result, work on the state’s project has come to a complete standstill for the last eight months. This successful test is expected to revive the project.

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