New Delhi: The Centre is initiating the process of starting Seaplane services on select routes to facilitate faster and hassle-free travel across county.
The services would be carried out under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) framework through prospective airline operators.
The execution and implementation of the project would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Several destinations are envisaged for seaplane operations, according to a statement of the ministry.
The proposed Origin-Destination pairs under Hub and Spoke model include various islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Guwahati Riverfront & Umranso Reservoir in Assam, Yamuna Riverfront / Delhi (as Hub) to Ayodhaya, Tehri, Srinagar(Uttrakhand), Chandigarh and many other tourist places of Punjab & HP; Mumbai (as Hub) to Shirdi, Lonavala, Ganpatipule; Surat (as Hub) to Dwarka, Mandvi & Kandla; Khindsi Dam, Nagpur & Erai Dam, Chandrapur (in Maharashtra) and/or any other Hub & Spoke suggested by the Operator.
One such Seaplane Service is already in operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31 last year.
To run more such services in the coastal areas or proximity to water bodies, SDCL is keen to associate with the interested scheduled/non-scheduled airline operators.
Mansukh Mandaviya, the minister, said that initiation of Seaplane operations aligned with the vision of Prime Minister to improve connectivity across the nation and make India as an attractive destination for the tourists.
