State-run engineering firm BHEL announced its tie-up with SwissRapide AG to bring Maglev trains (magnetic levitation) to India. Aimed at expanding its footprint in the urban transportation sector as part of its diversification initiatives, BHEL has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SwissRapide AG for Maglev Train projects in India.
The Maglev Rail system hovers in the air instead of rolling, due to magnetic levitation, thus the vehicles have no physical contact with the guideway. This enables the system to be highly energy- efficient, allows operating speeds of easily up to 500 km/h and significantly reduces the total cost of system ownership.
The MoU was signed by SV Srinivasan, GM & head (Transportation Business Group), BHEL, and Niklaus H Koenig, president and CEO, SwissRapide AG. The agreement has been signed in the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, and will enable BHEL to bring the latest, world-class technology to India and manufacture state-of-the-art Maglev trains indigenously.
The MoU sets out the foundation to cooperate and explore mutually beneficial business opportunities, and to utilise both the companies’ inherent capabilities, skills, knowledge and assets, with respect to the scope of Maglev Train projects in India. The SwissRapide AG is specialised in the promotion, project management, planning, designing and commissioning of international Maglev Rail projects.