Shipping and aviation ministries inks pact for development of seaplane services in India

New Delhi, June 16: With an aim to enhance the seamless connectivity across the nation, the Shipping Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of Sea Plane services in India. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Ministry Hardeep Singh Puri and MoS for Shipping Ministry Mansukh Mandaviya.

 

"This MoU envisages development of Non-Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services within the territorial jurisdiction of India under RCS-UDAN scheme of government of India," the Civil Aviation Ministry said in the statement.

 

This MoU envisages the development of the Non-Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services within the territorial jurisdiction of India under the RCS-UDAN scheme of the government of India.

 

 

 

As per MoU, a Co-ordination Committee with officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is to be set up for timely completion of operationalization of Seaplane services at various locations. MoCA, MoPSW, SDCL (Sagarmala Development Company Limited) will consider operationalizing Seaplane operating routes as identified/suggested by all agencies.

 

MoPSW would identify and develop the waterfront infrastructure of Aerodromes/ locations and obtain required statutory clearances /approvals in coordination with MoCA, DGCA and AAI by defining the timelines for all activities involved in the development of facilities for starting seaplanes operations.

 

Civil Aviation Ministry, would carry out bidding and select potential airline operators based on their commercial consideration through a bidding process, incorporate the locations/routes as identified by MoPSW & routes identified through a bidding process in the UDAN scheme document.

 

 

MoCA is also obliged to provide funds/financial support in respect of water aerodromes awarded under the RCS-UDAN scheme and coordinate with Chief Secretaries of all States for the Seaplanes operations.

 

Speaking on this occasion, Mandaviya said that the signing of the MoU will be a game-changer both for Indian Maritime and Civil Aviation sector as it will not only enhance seamless connectivity across the nation by promoting eco-friendly transportation through Seaplanes but also give a boost to the tourism industry.

 

While Hardeep S Puri said that this MoU between the two Ministries will help in expediting the development of new water aerodromes and also operationalization of new seaplane routes in India. He further stated that this will give a big fillip to the provision of a new kind of tourism service in India.

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