AMARAVATI, India -- Alongside the River Krishna sits Amaravati, an ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site that until recently was home to thousands of acres of fertile farms growing bananas, sugar cane, cotton, rice, spices and vegetables.
But if all goes to plan, Amaravati -- which means "abode of immortals" in Sanskrit -- will be transformed into India's most cutting-edge city by the middle of this century. Its planners are dreaming big: The new Amaravati will have an eco-friendly transport system that includes water taxis, electric vehicles and even a possible Hyperloop, if the sealed-tube train system championed by Elon Musk ever gets off the ground.