Mass transit systems like magnetic levitation (maglev) trains and the skybus could offer a solution to India’s transportation problems in the 21{+s}{+t}century, according to Dr. Tessy Thomas, Project Director, Agni, Advanced Systems Laboratory, Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Delivering a lecture on Science and Technology for Environmental Protection organised by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) under the Kerala Legislature Secretariat here on Tuesday, she said magnetic levitation trains that used magnets to lift and propel coaches up to a speed of 850 km per hour were eco-friendly and offered safe and fast transport.
The skybus, she said, featured lesser operational cost and better traffic management though it was capable of speeds only up to 80 km/ hour.
Incidentally, a proposal to use magnetic levitation for the elevated rail transport system in the capital city failed to get acceptance at a high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister on Monday. Officials and people’s representatives opposed the proposal on grounds of using an untested technology.
Addressing MLAs, officials of the Legislature Secretariat, scientific research organisations and students, Dr. Thomas said efforts were on to develop hypersonic aircraft using green propellants for environment- friendly propulsion.
Pointing to the growing threat of space pollution, she said an anti-satellite missile test by China in 2007 had created 2,300 pieces of trackable debris and one million small pieces in the earth’s orbit.
