IIT Madras Builds Sea Car, Impresses Anand Mahindra, Offers Rs.600 Kolkata-Chennai Trips in 3 Hours?
IIT Madras Builds Sea Car, Impresses Anand Mahindra, Offers ₹600 Kolkata-Chennai Trips in 3 Hours?
Waterfly Technologies, a startup born from IIT Madras, is developing electric seagliders. These seagliders, also known as Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft, fly just above the water’s surface, reaching impressive speeds of 500 km/h while remaining efficient. A prototype is expected by 2025, and the company aims to offer travel from Kolkata to Chennai for a mere Rs 600. This innovative technology has captured the attention of Mahindra Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra, who is captivated by the seagliders’ design.
The news about Waterfly Technologies and their electric seagliders was shared on X by the account of Indian Tech and Infra. The post highlighted the company’s mission to introduce a new transportation method in India, with plans to offer travel from Kolkata to Chennai for just Rs 600 using a Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft, which operates four meters above the sea surface.
Twitter Link
IIT Madras promises to rival silicon valley in terms of nurturing startups…!
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 25, 2025
Almost every week there’s news of a new ‘TechVenture’
What I like about this one is not just the promise of exploitation of our vast waterways, but the fact that the design of the craft is stunning!… https://t.co/UttbRFYQGW
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, reacted to the post, expressing his admiration for IIT Madras’s ability to nurture innovative startups. He praised Waterfly Technologies for its commitment to exploiting India’s vast waterways for transportation and for the stunning design of their seagliders. Mahindra tweeted, “IIT Madras promises to rival Silicon Valley in terms of nurturing startups…! Almost every week there’s news of a new ‘TechVenture’. What I like about this one is not just the promise of exploitation of our vast waterways, but the fact that the design of the craft is stunning! Design Rules!”
How did the internet react?
Users were thrilled about the innovation, with some proclaiming India unstoppable and others commending the impressive development. One comment highlighted how IIT Madras is not only nurturing startups but also spearheading global innovation, positioning India as a potential competitor to Silicon Valley.
Another emphasized the critical role of financial backing from major corporations in driving further advancements.
One user commented, “Superb, we need more of this to execute faster.”
A user also pointed out the need for superior design tools, noting that most are Western-made with expensive licensing, contrasting it with China’s investment in foundational technologies.
