New Delhi: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the development of Sea Plane services in India was signed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of State (I/C) Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri were present during the MoU signing ceremony held today at the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The signing of this MoU is a major milestone for making the seaplanes project a reality very soon. 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 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 (Sagarmala Development Company Limited) will consider operationalising Seaplane operating routes as identified/suggested by all agencies.
Speaking on this occasion, the Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said that 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.
On the occasion, the Minister of State (I/C) for Civil Aviation Shri Hardeep Singh 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.
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.
MoCA would carry out bidding and select potential airline operators based on their commercial consideration through the 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 the RCS-UDAN scheme and coordinate with Chief Secretaries of all States for the Seaplanes operations.
