Page 44 - Shelter - April 2025

POLICY REVIEW

on waste management scaling these efforts across action. Governments need
without equal emphasis the region requires more to implement and enforce
on reducing waste at its robust government support policies that incentivise
source. and policy alignment. Key circular practices, while
implementation challenges businesses must continue to
Business Initiatives in are high initial investment
Circularity and upfront cost; supply innovate and collaborate.

Several businesses in the chain and operational The next frontier for
Asia-Pacific region have challenges; and ambiguity in circularity in the region will
already taken significant steps definitions and requirements; be characterised by a level
toward implementing circular consumer behavior and playing field where products
economy principles with and market demand; and limited and services are developed by
without government support. capacity of organisations to circularity competitive in the
These businesses include implement and adopt circular market and over time linear
Budweiser Brewing Company economy policies. practices are phased out.
Asia-Pacific Limited; City The Next Frontier for With the right infrastructure,
Developments Limited; regulations, education,
CLP Holdings; En+Group; Circular Economy in the financial support, innovation,
Indorama Ventures; Mahindra Asia-Pacific Region and collaboration, the Asia-
Group; and Unilever PLC. To fully unlock the potential Pacific region can lead the
These examples highlight of the circular economy, global transition toward a
the potential for businesses countries in the Asia-Pacific sustainable, circular economy
to lead the circular economy region must move beyond that benefits both society and
transition. However, awareness and take decisive the planet.

India’s First Hyeperloop: Delhi-Jaipur

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed India’s first hyperloop test track, spanning 422
meters. This state-of-the-art facility, developed with support from the Ministry of Railways and L&T Constructions
aims to propel India into the next era of high-speed transportation. The hyperloop system envisions transporting
passengers in pods through low-pressure tubes at speeds exceeding 1,000 km/h, potentially reducing travel time
between Delhi and Jaipur to a mere 30 minutes.
The Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system designed for long-distance travel. It is often dubbed the
“fifth mode of transport” alongside road, rail, air, and water. The technology utilises customised capsules or pods
that are driven at extraordinary speeds through near-vacuum tubes. The vision of the hyperloop is to reach speeds
that are comparable to or even higher than those of flights by significantly lowering air resistance and friction. In
full-scale systems, the pods in hyperloops are said to be able to reach speeds of up to 1,200 kilometres per hour. The
track for Hyperloop can be built either above or below ground. Unlike trains or cars that have wheels, the pods
are developed to float on air skis, or use magnetic levitation (maglev) technology to lower friction. Hyperloop is
marked by its immunity to weather, collision-free commute which can move at twice the speed of a plane, with low
power consumption and energy storage for 24-hour operations.
The successful implementation of hyperloop technology could revolutionise India’s transportation infrastructure,
offering ultra-fast, efficient, and sustainable travel option. This advancement not only promises to enhance
connectivity between major urban centres but also positions India at the forefront of innovative transportation
solutions on the global stage.
Looking ahead, there are ambitious plans to extend this technology to create a hyperloop corridor between Chennai
and Bengaluru, potentially covering the 350 km distance in just 15 minutes.

42 HUDCO-HSMI Publication