Govt looks to launch seaplane services with airline operators: Ports Ministry

The development follows the launch of a seaplane service between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad by PM

The Centre has initiated the process for kickstart its ambitious seaplane services from select destination as part of the government's plan to promote tourism.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued an expression of interest (EoI) for the Sagarmala Seaplane Project Service ( SSPS) to provide seaplane services in different places across the country.

Routes and places the government wanted to launch seaplane services including Delhi’s Yamuna riverfront to Ayodhya, Tehri, Srinagar (Uttarakhand) and Chandigarh; Mumbai to Shirdi, Lonavala and Ganpatipule, and within the archipelagos of Andaman and Nicobar and Laskhadweep, Surat to Dwarka, Mandvi & Kandla; Khindsi Dam, Nagpur & Erai Dam, Chandrapur (in Maharashtra).

The Ministry has sought response to the project from interested operators by January 22, 2021, for forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) to undertake joint development and operation of SSPS.

The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which will be under the administrative control of the Ministry.

At present only one seaplane service under operation between Statue of Unity in Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31st October 2020.

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, Shipping Ministry said in a statement.

"To provide connectivity and easier accessibility to remote locations, SDCL is exploring plans to leverage the potential of the vast coastline and numerous water bodies/rivers across India by commencing seaplane operations. Sea Plane will utilise the nearby water bodies for take-off and landing and thus connect those places in a much economical way as conventional airport infrastructure like a runway and terminal buildings are not required for seaplane operations," the statement said.