India is developing water aerodromes, as a part of the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik). The water aerodromes aim to boost tourism in addition to enhancing air connectivity for short distance travelling.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a tweet, “With AAI’s aviation expertise and co-operation of state government under regional connectivity scheme UDAN, new chapter of water aerodromes is being written. Flying through Ocean of Opportunities!”
At present, there are ten sites under RCS-UDAN where water aerodromes are being developed — Statue of Unity (Sardar Sarovar Dam), Gujarat; Shatrunjay Dam, Gujarat; Sabarmati Riverfront, Gujarat; Umrangso Reservoir, Assam; Brahmaputra Riverfront, Assam; Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Telangana; Prakasam Barrage, Andhra Pradesh; Long Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island), Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
India’s first seaplane service is expected to take off this weekend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the project on October 31, 2020. On Monday, October 26, 2020, the seaplane that will connect Sabarmati Riverfront and Statue of Unity arrived in Kevadia, Gujarat.
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Shipping and Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers tweeted:
