Description

Date - 17th Jun 2021

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 15, 2021 to develop seaplane services in India. Mansuh Mandavia, Union Minister of State (independent commissioner) for ports, shipping and waterways, and Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State (independent commissioner) for civil aviation, attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding held at the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Development of Seaplane Services

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Development of Seaplane Services in India provides for the development of regular and unscheduled seaplane flights within the territorial jurisdiction of India under the Government of India's RCS-UDAN scheme.

According to the RCS-UDAN scheme, 28 routes have been allocated for seaplanes. Applications for an additional 78 seaplane routes are pending. 14 water aerodromes in Gujarat, Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a cost of Rs 450 crores are in various stages of development.

A coordinating committee with officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will be launched for the timely deployment of seaplanes at various locations. The Department of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) will review the commissioning of operational seaplane routes as defined or proposed by all agencies.

Role of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)

• Conduct a bidding process and select potential airline operators based on their commercial considerations,
• Implement locations and routes as proposed or determined by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in the bidding process in the UDAN scheme document,
• Provision of funds or any financial support for water aerodromes provided under the RCS-UDAN scheme,
• Work in coordination with the chief secretaries of all states for seaplane operations.

Seaplane services in India

There is currently only one seaplane service in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the country's first seaplane flight between the Sabarmati waterfront and the Qawadia Unity Statue in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on October 31, 2020.

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