Water aerodromes to come up in five Indian states

With an aim to promote operation of sea planes in the country, the central government has given in-principle approval for construction of ‘water aerodromes’, in five states. The first such aerodromes are set to come up in Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.

Chilka Lake in Odisha and Sabarmati river front and Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat have been identified by the government to implement the first phase of the project.

“In-principle approval has been given for the construction of water aerodromes in various states across the country. This move will promote tourism as well as connect places of religious importance,” tweeted civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu.

The decision comes eight months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile seaplane flight on the Sabarmati river front in December last year.

“The DGCA (aviation regulator) has already issued regulations prescribing the procedure and requirement for licensing of water aerodromes. Since there is no historical data on market and also the demand from any airlines, the project will be done as a pilot project,” said Prabhu.

According to DGCA, an entity seeking to set up a water aerodrome has to take approvals from various authorities, including the ministries of defence, home, environment and forests and shipping.

Seaplanes, like the one used by the Prime Minister in Gujarat, are likely to help tourists land in water-bodies at tourist hotspots such as Udaipur in Rajasthan, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.