A BRIDGE TO TOMORROW

Hyperloop, flying pods, climate resilient and smart urban amenities with integrated water, sanitation and waste systems are a must for India to become a developed country by 2047. However, financing remains a challenge

- BY RICHA SHARMA

RAINS FASTER THAN planes? Yes, you read it right, and it could be a reality soon. China recently tested magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology trains running at 600 km/h. India is experimenting with 1,100 km/h hyperloop technology, which can cover the Delhi to Mumbai distance in just over an hour. Hyperloop uses capsules supported by an air-bearing surface within a low-pressure tube.

A 410-metre-long hyperloop test tube is already operational in IIT Chennai. The government is now planning the development of a 50-km hyperloop corridor—the longest in Asia—for commercial transport. This will completely change train travel. This is part of a series of futuristic infrastructure projects related to urban development, smart mobility, energy transition, and social and digital infrastructure that India is exploring keeping in mind its aspiration to become a developed economy by 2047.

Nilachal Mishra, Partner and Head, Government & Public Services, KPMG, says by 2047, India is expected to undergo a significant transformation in how people and goods move, how cities grow, and how energy is produced and consumed.

"Overall, India’s infrastructure future will likely be shaped by a blend of technology, inclusivity, and sustainability with global learnings adapted to domestic needs," he tells Business Today. However, these goals are constrained by a significant infrastructure financing gap, exceeding 5% of its GDP, according to the World Bank.

Despite a substantial increase in public investment (central government spending has more than doubled from FY21 to ₹11,11,111 crore in FY24), private capital remains largely untapped. Institutional investors, like insurance and pension funds, allocate only 6% of their funds to infrastructure.