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A foundational issue in the political economy is what is the role of the state? While protection and safety against aggression, both from external and internal, seem to be the legitimate and core principles behind the formation of states, public services like education and healthcare are often now conceived as being the responsibility of the state. But, what about transportation/ mobility?, is it the responsibility of the state or is it best left to private providers. This is a question that societies have been grappling with for quite sometime now. 
 
In India, the transportation model is mixed and (some would say mixed up) with the state ensuring the basic infrastructure like roads and railway tracks and even airports and ports in most cases. Services over these are provided by both government and the private sector. Two recent debates over transportation have made headlines but have rarely been understood from a holistic viewpoint. 
 
The first of these was the odd-even rule in the capital, brought to reduce the negative externality of air pollution. Many people have been very skeptical about how the plan is to get implemented. 
 
Also, the lack of end-to-end connectivity, women safety, and enforceability are cited as major challenges to the rule. Experts contend that the record of these types of rules has not been very positive in other countries that have had similar rules. In addition, several people opine that before making these rules, it is a must to improve the existing transportation infrastructure within the city and to have cheap and convenient public transport. Also, alternative solutions like increasing ethanol content can be effective at the same time causing lesser inconvenience to common people. 
 
Another problem is with respect to India's lack of solution-oriented approach to mobility options within a city. This is where the need is to look at integrated urban mobility solutions for people residing in cities. Often the initial part or the ending part becomes exorbitantly expensive for people who live away from public transport systems. This is where there is a need for improvement both in terms of cost and convenience. 
 
The second major thing which hit the headlines in the recent times was the metro rail project that is an inter-city project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. A lot of debate has taken place regarding the cost dynamics of the proposed project that is estimated to cost close to Rs 70000 crore. If escalations are added, the project is expected to cost close to Rs 98000 crore. Out of these, Rs 70000 crore a bulk of the costs, i.e., Rs 50000 crore is expected to be civil costs that will go to Indian companies. 
 
The project is at an advanced stage with Japan agreeing to provide India with more than three-fourth of the loan at a concessional rate of 0.1 percent and moratorium period of 15 years and a payback period of 50 years. It is one of the best deals India has had regarding cost and time, even from Japan, which reflects the depth of the Indo-Japanese relationship. The train technology is second to none with respect to safety. It has not had a single causality in 50 years of operation. 
 
The crucial question to ask, therefore, is not if a high-speed technology is good or not but can India's existing rail infrastructure be upgraded to improve travel times? And if so, at what cost? Travel time improvement requires not just track up-gradation but also an improvement in capacity utilization. With already overburdened capacity on the rail network, is it possible to improve speed is a crucial question to ask and answer by rail authorities. And if it is not is it not wise to upgrade to better technology with proposed high-speed tracks? 
 
Over the next few decades, India must find solutions that are visionary but also pragmatic as more people live in urban and semi-urban areas. The travel times can drastically improve with newer technologies in rails and even in automobiles. But as a nation, we must look to find solutions that solve the pressing problems of our times like vehicular pollution, availability of public transport with public consultation and seeing if better alternative solutions exist. But once a decision is made Indians must all support it to take India ahead. 
 
(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya) 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Finding solutions to India's transportation challenges

<ul><li>The complete <keyword id="6396317" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyperloop">Hyperloop</keyword> corridor will run between Anatapur-Amaravati-Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam.</li><li>Phase I and II consists of building the route between <keyword id="261805" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amaravati">Amaravati</keyword> and <keyword id="37103" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijayawada">Vijayawada</keyword>.</li><li>There are two possible routes at the company’s disposal as per their pre-feasibility study. </li></ul><keyword id="2914023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hyperloop-Transportation-Technologies">Hyperloop Transportation Technologies</keyword> (HTT), one of the companies working towards building hyperloops around the world, presented their pre-feasibility study to show which routes would work within the state of <keyword id="37102" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> between the city of Amaravati and Vijayawada, a metropolitan district in the same state. 
	
	
	
	
	<div type="image" title="Hyperloop route alternatives." height="480" width="640" msid="64066689" hostid="261"></div>










 The project, in its entirety, will include three phases where, whichever route is chosen, will consist of phase I and phase II. Phase I can be located in either, Amaravati or Vijayawada, and will run a pod heading east-west on a 5-10 kms stretch as a pilot showcase for stakeholders and the public. 
	


	
	
	
	
	<div type="image" title="Proposed Hyperloop routes mapped out" height="480" width="640" msid="64066697" hostid="261"></div>










 Once the hyperloop corridor is completed, the route will start from <keyword id="70188" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anantapur">Anantapur</keyword> (another city in Andhra Pradesh) to Amaravati, followed by Vijayawada and <keyword id="60510" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Visakhapatnam">Visakhapatnam</keyword> (the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh). The entire <keyword id="3926428" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyperloop-transportation">Hyperloop Transportation</keyword> system will extend to around 700-800 kms that will be integrated into the public transit system. Which brings us to phase III, encompassing a commercial route that will either cover the north or the south section of the corridor. 
	
	
	
	
	<div type="image" title="Future phases of the Hyperloop route" height="480" width="640" msid="64066725" hostid="261"></div>











 Aside from probable routes, HTT also put forward the blueprints for the manufacturing complex that they’ll need in order to actually build the tube, capsule and track. According <keyword id="6505428" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="shri-ajay-jain">Shri Ajay Jain</keyword>, the Principal Secretary of <keyword id="6505427" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-infrastructure-and-investment-department">Energy Infrastructure and Investment Department</keyword>, “The proposed capital city Amaravati would house 3.5 million people and create 1.5 million jobs. The plan also proposes 9 theme-based cities within the capital city to serve as the hub of activities serving unique functions and employment generation alsong with complementary functions.” He adds, “To support this requirement, there is a need for sustainable high-quality robust mass transportation system.” Hyperloop seems to be part of the Indian government’s plans. Previously, Hyperloop One, the only company to have presented a working Hyperloop system so far, had also proposed routes and plans for the country. However, most of the plans are meant for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Here-is-why-its-too-early-to-be-excited-about-Hyperloop-in-India/articleshow/63203135.cms">commercial use cases</a> right now.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies recommends two prospective routes in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Desperate Indians are turning to a black market in <keyword id="6355647" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Oxygen">oxygen</keyword> as stocks dwindle amid a <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> surge. </li><li>Oxygen shortages have taken hold in several countries, with rampant price-gouging.</li><li>Reports from around the world detail cylinders being sold for ten times their normal price.</li></ul><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> is having to deal with a black market for oxygen amidst a record-breaking COVID-19 surge that has exhausted supplies in many hospitals. It is a trend that has been seen in many countries around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six hospitals in India said Thursday that hey had run out of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-hospitals-run-out-of-oxygen-amid-covid-19-surge-2021-4">medical oxygen</a>, one of the most important treatments for those struggling with COVID-19 symptoms.Demand for oxygen is likely to shoot up in coming days in twelve states in India as the country continues to report hundreds of thousands of new cases each day, <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-which-states-are-worst-hit-why-is-oxygen-transportation-difficult-7277038/">the Indian Express reported</a>.<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/oxygen-cylinders-remdesivir-being-sold-on-black-market/articleshow/82185040.cms">The Times of India reported Thursday</a> that the average cost of an oxygen cylinder has "skyrocketed", to 20,000 to 25,000 rupees, about $250-330.One man in India told AFP that he paid 45,000 rupees, about $600, for a cylinder of oxygen. That is about nine times its normal price, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210422-india-s-covid-19-shortages-spur-black-market-for-drugs-oxygen">AFP reported on Thursday</a>.One advertisement circulated on social media offering a cylinder for 30,000 rupees, about $400. Another offered it for 35,000, about $460, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/making-hay-in-the-black-market-remdesivir-sold-at-rs-40000-oxygen-cylinder-at-rs-35000/articleshow/82187715.cms">the Times of India reported</a>.<a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD?name_desc=false">According to World Bank data</a>, the Gross National Income per capita in India is $2,120 per year.India is not alone in facing this issue. 25 countries around the world are reporting a surge in demand for oxygen, mostly in Africa, <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/25-02-2021-covid-19-oxygen-emergency-impacting-more-than-half-a-million-people-in-low--and-middle-income-countries-every-day-as-demand-surges">the World Health Organization (WHO) said</a>. More than half a million COVID-19 patients need oxygen treatment every day, <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/25-02-2021-covid-19-oxygen-emergency-impacting-more-than-half-a-million-people-in-low--and-middle-income-countries-every-day-as-demand-surges">per WHO estimates</a>. That means 1.1 million oxygen cylinders every day. Brazil, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/world/americas/mexico-covid-oxygen-shortage.html">Mexico</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/07/peru-jungle-iquitos-coronavirus-covid-19">Peru</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/world/middleeast/egypt-hospital-oxygen-covid.html">Egypt</a>, Nigeria and other countries all reported shortages at the height of COVID-19 surges, and many had to deal with black markets praying on the vulnerable.In Peru last year, the price of a cylinder of oxygen was pushed well over $1,000, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/07/peru-jungle-iquitos-coronavirus-covid-19">The Guardian reported</a>.One woman reported paying nearly $1,300 for a cylinder, a markup of 1,000%, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/peru-coronavirus-oxygen-tank-price-gouging/2020/06/17/3e0f5392-b0bc-11ea-8f56-63f38c990077_story.html">The Washington Post said on June 18, 2020</a>. In Mexico too a black market thrived amid a nationwide shortage, with demand up sevenfold, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/world/americas/mexico-covid-oxygen-shortage.html?referringSource=articleShare">The New York Times reported</a>. Trucks transporting oxygen were held up at gunpoint, according to local reports, and prices for oxygen tripled on the black market, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/world/americas/mexico-covid-oxygen-shortage.html?referringSource=articleShare">The Times reported on February 9</a>. At the height of the shortage crisis in Brazil's Manaus region in January, the price of a 50-liter oxygen container went up 6.5 times, to almost $1,200, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210319-covid-leaves-brazilian-amazon-city-struggling-to-breathe">France 24 reported</a>.Oxygen shipments were guarded by police. Some sellers were caught painting fire hydrants green to pass them off as containers, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210319-covid-leaves-brazilian-amazon-city-struggling-to-breathe">France 24 reported on March 19</a>. Black markets aren't the only reason for a price hike. Transportation and infrastructure also contribute to the increase. Oxygen is often produced by factories, and transported by cooled tankers over long distances. In richer countries, the oxygen is taken in liquid form by cooled tankers to the hospitals. This means the oxygen, which takes less space in liquid form, is cheaper to transport.But most hospitals in poorer countries around the world don't have this sort of infrastructure. They have to rely on the transport of heavy gas metal cylinders over long distances to reach the hospital. That incurs logistical and transport costs, passed on to the patient, <a href="https://elemental.medium.com/theres-a-global-shortage-of-medical-oxygen-covid-19-is-making-it-worse-14553be5da09">according to a Medium post by Craig Spencer</a>, a medical professor in New York and a board member of Doctors Without Borders.Small rural hospitals in Kenya and Nigeria, pay 5 to 10 times more for a cylinder of oxygen than a London hospital does, <a href="https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-08-09/lack-of-oxygen-leaves-covid-19-patients-in-africa-gasping-for-air">according to an investigation from the UK's Bureau of Investigative Journalism</a>. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/world/americas/mexico-covid-oxygen-shortage.html?referringSource=articleShare">According to The Times</a>, at the height of the oxygen shortage in Mexico, a cylinder of oxygen cost more than $800, up to 10 times the cost paid by a US hospital. Most states in India have redirected their oxygen production, which is used for instance in the iron, steel and glass industry, towards meeting the oxygen need, <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-which-states-are-worst-hit-why-is-oxygen-transportation-difficult-7277038/">the Indian Express reported</a>. But here, again, the problem is transport, and India is huge. Oxygen production is mostly done in eastern India, whereas the demand for oxygen is higher in the western part of India and other parts, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/view-how-india-could-pump-oxygen-into-the-oxygen-supply-chain/articleshow/82200183.cms">The Economic Times has reported</a>. Because of the increased logistics and transport, the cost of refilling a cylinder in India has been hiked fivefold, from about $1-5 to $6 to $26, <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-which-states-are-worst-hit-why-is-oxygen-transportation-difficult-7277038/">The Indian Express reported</a>.India's police has been cracking down on the black market for oxygen. The government of the Uttar Pradesh state of India has said it would invoke the National Security Act and Gangster Act to combat black marketing of oxygen, <a href="https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts/status/1385415125012787207?s=20">All India Radio News said in a tweet on Thursday</a>. India plans to import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to deal with the crisis, <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-which-states-are-worst-hit-why-is-oxygen-transportation-difficult-7277038/">the Indian Express reported</a>. It also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-coronavirus-oxygen-express-trains-hospital-shortages-2021-4">set up an "Oxygen Express" train to get supplies to hard-hit states</a>.Some experts blame the government for not putting the infrastructure in place to avoid this situation in the first place. "We were aware that the second wave was coming but we didn't plan to avoid unfortunate incidences like shortages of drugs, beds and oxygen," <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56757405">epidemiologist Dr Lalit Kant told the BBC</a>.

India's COVID-19 surge is highlighting a ruthless, global black market for oxygen, where sellers jack prices up to 1,000%

New Delhi, Jan 9 () Mahindra Logistics Ltd (MLL) on Thursday said it has launched a distribution centre for the pharmaceutical industry in the country's northern region, making a foray into first-of-its-kind temperature-controlled warehouse in the pharma sector.
 Through this facility, MLL will manage the warehousing and distribution for its client, in addition to their inbound and outbound multi-modal transportation across India.
 "MLL, one of India's largest 3PL solution providers, recently launched a state-of-the-art distribution centre for the pharma industry in North India. With this launch, MLL forays into a first-of-its-kind temperature-controlled warehouse in the pharma sector," the company said in a statement.
 It said the warehouse is specially designed and equipped with the latest temperature-control mechanisms for efficient power consumption, customised storage, diverse material-handling equipment (MHE) and technological solutions, including 'Mycargo360', a transportation management system.
 Rampraveen Swaminathan, chief executive officer of Mahindra Logistics, said, "We are delighted to open this facility and we are certain that this facility will align our clients' distribution network in North India and achieve their post-GST requirements."
 He added, "The facility is sustainable and energy efficient. Our integrated distribution solution combining warehousing, transportation and express movement will help our customers optimise their cost and on-time delivery."
 MLL provides a range of services and solutions, including warehousing, distribution and cross-border logistics solutions for the pharma industry.
 With warehousing, transportation and freight forwarding operations spanning 15 million square feet and 75,000 vehicle placements per month, MLL has an extensive pan-India network and global connectivity, it said.
 MLL is a portfolio company of Mahindra Partners, the USD 1-billion private equity division of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group. NAM HRS

Mahindra Logistics opens distribution centre in northern India

<ul><li>In an interview with Business Insider, Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO, <keyword id="3009822" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shuttl">Shuttl</keyword>, said the company is not competing with <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> and <keyword id="6354720" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola">Ola</keyword> and instead complements them. </li><li>Shuttl has taken a public transport provider – bus – and offered it as a private transport service.</li></ul>India’s transportation industry has seen the rise of homegrown <keyword id="6362513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups">startups</keyword> like Ola and the entry of global bigwigs like Uber. When bus aggregator and mobility app Shuttl came in 2015, it operated in the grey area between public and private transport. So, Shuttl competes in a market that already has public transportation like the metro along with convenience factors like Uber and Ola. Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO, Shuttl, believes they built a category that didn’t exist. “Small changes make the product very different. They are on-demand companies, we are a planned ride share company – with slots, routes and subscriptions,” he said. Singh explains that the difference between transportation and mobility is that mobility is a bottoms-up approach. “We care about where our consumer is, where he/she wants to go and build routes accordingly. Everything is consumer focused. Even when you are doing a traffic study for the metro, you need to be very confident about what the demand would be 5 years down the line as well. If you don’t get it right, viability goes for a toss,” he said. In fact, this was one of the challenges Singh faced when they began working on Shuttl. While buses have been operational in India for ages, they had not really been integrated with technology. This meant that Singh had no proof-of-concept whether the startup would actually take off.

Here’s why Shuttl is not in a competition with Uber and Ola

Chennai, Public sector major <keyword id="59700" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="coal-india-ltd" source="Orion">Coal India Ltd</keyword> (CIL) has chalked out Rs 24,750 crore investment for eco-friendly transportation of coal on 61 first mile connectivity (FMC) projects. The three phased investment project when completed will have a combined capacity of 763.5 million ton per annum (MTPA), the company said. FMC projects involve transportation of coal in mechanized piped conveyors from production point to coal handling plants/silos with rapid loading system where coal is loaded directly into <keyword id="1060490" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rail-wagons" source="Orion">rail wagons</keyword>. According to the company, 35 FMC projects under the first phase having 414.5 MTPA capacity account for Rs. 10,750 crores. Eight projects of 112 MTPA capacity are already operational. CIL is gearing up to commission 17 more projects of 178 MTPA by FY 2024 end. The rest 10 comprising 124.5 MTPA capacity are expected to be operative by FY 2025, the company said. The second and third phase projects account for nine and 17 respectively. While their respective evacuation capacities are 57 MTPA and 292 MTPA, the investments sequentially, would be about Rs 2,500 crore and Rs11,500 crore. Under the second phase five projects of 21.5 MTPA capacity under construction are expected to be commissioned by FY 2025. Remaining projects are in different stages of progress with tenders issued and bid documents under preparation. For the third phase, tenders have been floated for three projects of 65 MTPA capacity. Nine projects are to be executed through mine developers and operators. The third phase projects are anticipated to be commissioned by FY 2029. Total eco-friendly coal evacuation would go up to 914.5 MTPA when all the 61 projects become operational by FY 2029, including the earlier capacity of 151 MTPA. FMC projects offer benefits like suppression of dust pollution and carbon emissions and reduce the load on road transportation leading to safety. Other benefits include precise quantity and quality coal is loaded for consumers with minimal manual intervention.

Coal India to invest ₹24,750 crore on eco-friendly transportation

India’s Road Transport Minister <keyword id="26680" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nitin-gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> said the country won’t have driverless cars and the government will instead focus on cab aggregator platform. Gadkari said allowing <keyword id="4221223" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Driverless-Cars-in-India">driverless cars in India</keyword> would lead to joblessness and the government plans to train drivers as adequate driving skills can provide employment to about 50 lakh people. "We will not allow driver-less cars in India. India suffers a huge shortage of 22 lakh drivers...Cab aggregators take advantage of these. We are not going to promote any technology or policy that will render people jobless," Gadkari said. He said the government is planning to introduce a cab aggregator platform where commuters could choose any mode of transportation like electric four-wheeler taxis or two- wheelers. This step will increase competition with Ola and Uber in India. “The government will only be a facilitator in this but the platform will bring in more competition and help commuters to have affordable public transportation,” said Gadkari. Speaking about electric vehicles, Gadkari said government will promote electric vehicles but would not allow its imports and rather would urge all major automobile companies to manufacture this as per 'Make in India' drive. Besides, the government is also planning to introduce and make GPS and satellite tracking mandatory in all public and private vehicles. Besides, plans were afoot to transform public transportation in the country and replace 1.8 lakh buses across the states with luxury buses, the minister said. "Talks are on with <keyword id="6354424" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Bank">World Bank</keyword> and <keyword id="50190" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank">Asian Development Bank</keyword> (ADB) to help India to replicate the London Transport Authority Model where all the public transportation buses would be replaced by luxury buses and a common man can travel in them by paying about 40 per cent less price as compared to current fares," said Gadkari.

Here’s why Nitin Gadkari said no to driverless cars in India

Elon Musk-backed <keyword id="2914023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyperloop-Transportation-Technologies">Hyperloop Transportation Technologies</keyword> (HTT) Co-Founder Bibop G <keyword id="3928014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gresta">Gresta</keyword> today said the company is ready to build <keyword id="6396317" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hyperloop">Hyperloop</keyword> between Mumbai and Pune, but the decision is left with Union Transport Minister <keyword id="26680" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitin-gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> to go ahead with the project and can be built in 38 months. 
 
The company is also working with 25 Indians, including two Indian companies, to build the transportation system, which involves shooting tubes in a vacuum chamber across vast distances-Hyperloop. 
 
"There are two Indian companies working with us. One is a maker of the tubes, another is an engineering company. I can't name them right now though. But in total we have about 25 people from India working on the Hyperloop,” Gresta told ET. 
 
According to Gresta, India planning on spending thousands of crores to build bullet trains to boost the country's transportation infrastructure is a bad idea. 
 
"You are going to spend $12 billion on a bullet train? Put $1 billion in hyperloop and you will never need a bullet train, he told ET. 
 
He also said that India needs hyperloop because of the bad conditions transportation. 
 
"I think India is a perfect country to implement this project because the roads are not that good. Here the transportation is not capable to sustain a growth in a country like India," he said. 
 Among the prominent cities and countries where the Hyperloop will be built are California, Utah, Illinois, Florida, Indianapolis, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Spain, France, Slovakia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Botswana, South <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword>, Russia, China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia. Gresta said the company has received an investment of over $100 million to build Hyperloop in these countries and cities around the globe.

Ready To build Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune: HTT Co-Founder Gresta

<keyword id="3356943" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyperloop-one">Hyperloop One</keyword> has big plans to transform the future of transportation and at a media event in Delhi last week, the company had revealed that it was in talks with the government to bring ultra-fast transportation to India. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-ola-auto-drivers-are-changing-Indian-roads/articleshow/57539709.cms">ALSO</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-ola-auto-drivers-are-changing-Indian-roads/articleshow/57539709.cms"> READ: These Women Ola Auto drivers are changing Indian roads</a> 
 
In a country that might become the most populated country in the near future, the decision can prove to be crucial. 
The pending decision by the Indian government will be made before the end of the year, according to reports. If the plan does go ahead, the company wants to source a large number of components locally, which would be a boon to the Indian economy. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/shervin-pishevar-talks-about-indian-startups-and-hyperloop-one-which-propel-india-to-become-the-next-superpower/articleshow/57428216.cms">ALSO READ: Shervin Pishevar talks about Indian startups and Hyperloop One, which can propel India to become the next superpower</a> 
 
The US-based company hosted a global design competition that received 2,600 registrants in five months and Of the 35 semifinalists announced in January, five proposals came from India, for India. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/hyperloop-one-launches-vision-for-india-where-travel-time-from-bengaluru-to-chennai-could-become-20-mins-if-executed/articleshow/57391546.cms">ALSO READ: Hyperloop One launches 'Vision for India' where travel time from Bengaluru to Chennai could become 20 mins if executed</a> 
 
To infer which route makes the most sense, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HyperloopOne/app/126231547426086/">the company has opened up a poll on its Facebook page </a>asking respondents which India route they would prefer the most. The five proposed routes are:

Hyperloop One asks Indians to identify the first busy route where it can bring ultra-fast transportation system

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="107096" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tesla">Tesla</keyword> has registered a company in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> as it prepares to launch operations there in "early 2021," according to the country's <keyword id="6355002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="transport">transport</keyword> minister.</li><li>India is pushing for a boost in electric vehicle sales as it focuses on cutting emissions.</li><li>It has the world's fifth biggest car market – but Toyota and Ford have been scaling back operations in the country.</li></ul>Tesla is coming closer to launching sales in India later this year.The electric vehicle giant has now registered a company in the country, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29H23U">Reuters</a> reported, citing documents filed on Tuesday.India is home to the world's second largest population and fifth biggest car market.The company, called Tesla Motors India and Energy Private Limited, was incorporated on January 8, Reuters reported. Its office is registered in Bangalore, a city in the south that has become the country's technology hub, and it has three listed directors.The company's registration came less than two weeks after Nitin Gadkari, India's transport minister, told <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/nitin-gadkari-confirms-tesla-coming-to-india-in-early-2021-7123238/">The Indian Express</a> that Tesla would launch operations in India in "early 2021." The company would start with sales then potentially moving on to assembly and manufacturing, he said.CEO <keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword> has been teasing Tesla's entry into the Indian market for years."Next year for sure," he said in October in response to a tweet asking when Tesla would sell its electric cars in India."Thanks for waiting!" <keyword id="364027" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Musk">Musk</keyword> added.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teslas-new-battery-design-is-brilliant-says-a-top-researcher-2020-9?r=gd-sub">Tesla's new 'tabless' battery design eliminates the power pack's 'weakest link,' a top researcher says - and could cut production costs by 50%</a>The Indian government is pushing for a boost in electric vehicle sales as it increasingly focuses on cutting emissions and other sustainability measures.In September 2017, the government said all of the roughly 250 million <keyword id="36810" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="vehicles">vehicles</keyword> on the road must be electric by 2030. But <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2019/12/05/can-india-turn-nearly-200-million-vehicles-electric-in-six-years/#204ada9b15db">after fierce criticism</a>, the government lowered this target to just 30% in February 2018.And Delhi, the national capital, will have <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/2-000-electric-buses-in-delhi-by-end-2021-govt/story-UNUbjbowri3qPJJQbEI6JJ.html">as many as 2,000 electric public transport buses</a> by the end of 2021, the city's transport minister Kailash Gahlot announced in August 2020. The ministry for power is also looking into setting up electric vehicle charging points at all gas stations in Delhi, he added."I am confident that in five years Indian will become the number one hub for manufacturing electric buses, cars and two-wheelers," Nitin Gadkari, the county's minister of road transport and highways, said <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/industry/india-global-hub-manufacturing-of-electric-vehicles-five-years-nitin-gadkari-lithium-ion-batteries/1996038/">in June</a>. "It is interesting, and highly ambitious, to see that (Musk) is hoping to make inroads in a country which has a reputation for huge levels of air pollution, particularly in the big cities," Sam Bailey from intellectual property firm Mewburn Ellis told Insider. "It is also evidence of his belief that Tesla is now getting closer to a price point that is attractive and affordable for people in all economies and no longer the preserve of the very rich early adopters of new technology."India is the third-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, after China and the US, according to the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/06/chart-of-the-day-these-countries-create-most-of-the-world-s-co2-emissions/">World Economic Forum</a>, and accounts for around 7% of total global emissions."Tesla has rightly identified India as a market with great demand growth potential," David Leggett, automotive analyst at GlobalData, said. "There is a large and affluent middle class developing in its many urban centres.""India has a population comparable in size to that of China - it is approaching 1.5 billion people - but its car market is only around 3 million, around a tenth of China's. Over the next five years, we expect India's car market to double in size, with <keyword id="6354973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="electric-vehicles">electric vehicles</keyword> increasing their share."Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-trade-secrets-lawsuit-settlement-martin-tripp-2020-12">A former Tesla employee who filed a whistleblower tip is paying the company $400,000 for divulging trade secrets, following a 2-year dispute with Elon Musk</a>Musk has been discussing Tesla's launch in India for years.Back in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-tesla-may-launch-in-india-this-summer-musk-2017-2">February 2017</a>, Musk said he hoped to launch sales in India that summer.Four months later, he said <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-plans-sell-tesla-india-2017-6">he was in talks with India's government</a> about Tesla.Then in March 2019, he tweeted: "Would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next!" when asked when Tesla would launch sales there.As Tesla plans its launch into the Indian markets, other vehicle manufacturers continue to pull out.In September, Harley-Davidson announced it would <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harley-davidson-quits-the-worlds-biggest-motorcycle-market-2020-9">stop manufacturing in</a> India, despite its status as the world's largest motorcycle market, and Toyota said that same month it was halting a planned expansion due to India's high tax regime.General Motors left India in 2017 after failing to expand its market share, and Ford said in October 2019 it was moving the majority of its assets into a joint venture with Indian vehicle firm Mahindra &amp; Mahindra.Earlier this month Tesla announced it had begun producing Model Y vehicles in China, the world's largest car market, which experts say <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-china-loves-tesla-elon-musk-2020-5">could be crucial to Tesla's success</a>. It also slashed the pre-order sales price for the vehicle by 30%.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-china-loves-tesla-elon-musk-2020-5"></a>

Tesla edges closer to launching sales in India by registering a company in the country

<ul><li>India on Monday launched a smart card that aims to link all modes of public transport in the country.</li><li>The RuPay-powered card is an amalgamation of all the other cards. People will be able to book tickets, use it for metro in any city and pay for parking. </li><li>It will also let users withdraw money using the card.</li></ul> In a bid to promote hassle-free and cashless transportation, India on Monday unveiled ‘One-Nation-One-Card,’ a smart card valid for all modes of public transport in the country. 
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/718314968102367232/ypY1GPCQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="9050" retweetcount="2215" status="Here is how the dream of ‘One Nation, One Card’ was fulfilled today, furthering ‘Ease of Living’ for several citize… https://t.co/PQ371C28tf" createdat="1551721823000" id="1102627360656904192"></div>







 The card will run on the government-backed payment platform RuPay, and will be valid at metros, buses or trains, as well as for toll and parking. The card draws inspiration from existing services connecting transport in Singapore and London. India’s capital, New Delhi, has already been running a pilot project of a common smart card “One Card” connecting city buses and the Delhi metro. 
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="RuPay_npci" handlename="RuPay" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/869581030847639556/2EDZxC--_normal.jpg" favoritecount="39" retweetcount="18" status="RuPay Contactless Card with NCMC is now available with almost 25+ large banks as debit, credit or prepaid. With thi… https://t.co/9pN7qQnBbA" createdat="1551699840000" id="1102535156944916481"></div>







 Here are some key facts about the card: <ol><li>It will be powered by RuPay and <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-one-nation-one-card-for-all-modes-of-travel-today/articleshow/68247992.cms">can be used</a> across all the public transport and retail payments including transit, retail, toll, and parking. In fact, it will let people withdraw money from it. </li><li>The card will be issued by any bank as debit, credit or prepaid. </li><li>The “Made in India” RuPay Card is a contactless card and will allow people to tap-and-go. </li><li>It can be <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-one-nation-one-card-for-all-modes-of-travel-today/articleshow/68247992.cms">used</a> just like any other debit or credit card. The smart card can either be used to get tickets from the counter or to enter the stations like metro. </li><li>The smart card also has a “unique stored value” feature that can be used to make digital payments in offline mode. </li><li>It will also allow the purchase of monthly passes and season tickets. </li><li>The concept of a single card for all public transportation<a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/policy/niti-aayog-one-nation-one-card-for-public-transport/story/282009.html"> came from</a> Singapore and London. London’s Oyster card allows travel on any bus, metro or suburban trains. </li><li>India is <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-one-nation-one-card-for-all-modes-of-travel-today/articleshow/68247992.cms">reportedly </a>using its own indigenous technology to support the card. </li></ol> In September, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said "The objective of the strategy is to plan for the citizens first, rather than focusing on vehicles alone, by providing sustainable mobility and accessibility by switching to cleaner mode of transportation," reported IANS. (With Agencies)

One-Nation-One-Card: Here’s what you need to know about India’s public transport smart card

<ul><li><keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> India has partnered with <keyword id="6355455" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-railways">Indian Railways</keyword> to launch pick up kiosks in <keyword id="6358070" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>.</li><li>The CSTM, Thane, Dadar and Kalyan stations will see the pilot run of the project. </li><li>Amazon recently opened its largest campus in Hyderabad. The 9.5 acre campus will house 15,000 employees.</li></ul>Amazon India partnered with the Indian Railways to set up pick up kiosks at Mumbai’s local railway stations. This plan will be piloted in stations like CSTM, Thane, Dadar and Kalyan. Through these pick up kiosks, customers can pick up their couriers on-the-go. “As a customer-obsessed company, we are constantly leveraging our resources and technology to build initiatives which are grounded in customer convenience. The suburban railway network forms the backbone of public transportation in Mumbai,” said Prakash Rochlani, Director – Last Mile Transportation, Amazon India. While shopping, customers can select a pick up point at the checkout page. Amazon has been ramping up its game in India. It recently opened its largest campus in Hyderabad. The 9.5 acre campus will house 15,000 employees. Across the country, Amazon now has more than 60 fulfillment centers with over 20 million cubic feet storage space.

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