New Delhi, 15 June. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India for development of Sea Plane services in India was signed today.
Minister
of State (I/C) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr MansukhMandaviya
and Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri were present
during the MoU signing ceremony held here today.
Signing of this MoU is
a major milestone for making seaplanes project a reality very soon. This MoU
envisages development of Non Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services
within territorial jurisdiction of India under RCS-UDAN scheme of government of
India. As per MoU, a Co-ordination Committee with officials of 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
operationalisation of Seaplane services at various locations. MoCA, MoPSW, SDCL
will consider operationalising of Seaplane operating routes as
identified/suggested by all agencies.
MoPSW would identify
and develop water front 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.
MoCA would carry out
bidding and select potential airlines operators based on their commercial
consideration through bidding process, incorporate the locations/routes as
identified by MoPSW& routes identified through bidding process in UDAN
scheme document. MoCA is also obliged to provide funds/financial support in
respect of water aerodromes awarded under RCS-UDAN scheme and coordinate with
Chief Secretaries of all States for the Seaplanes
operations.
On the occasion, Mr Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State(IC) for Civil Aviation stated 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.
Speaking on this
occasion, the Minister of State (I/C) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways, Mr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that signing of this 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”.