State’s first seaplane service launched

                      

• The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) on Monday launched the state’s first seaplane service, through which tourists will be taken by two Amphibian aircraft to tourist spots like water bodies where there are no runways.
• Initially the service will be launched in the city to ferry people from Juhu to Nariman Point, for which the inaugural fare will be `750. 
• In the first phase of operations, the services will be extended to destinations like Aamby Valley, Gangapur Dam (Nashik), Mula Dam (Meherabad/Shirdi), Pawna Dam (Lonavla), Varasgaon Dam (Lavasa) and Dhoom Dam (Panchgani/Mahabaleshwar). 
• In the second phase, Mumbai will be connected with places on the Konkan coast like Ganpati Pule, Harihareshwar, Tarkarli and Murud Janjira. 
• The trips to Aamby Valley and Lavasa will cost around `4,000-4,500.
• Fliers can book seats for this service on the MEHAIR’s website from March 10.
• The seaplane service has been launched with a Cessna 206 Amphibian aircraft and another Cessna 208 Amphibian will be inducted by April. 
• Both the models can accommodate four to nine passengers. Siddharth Verma, director and co-founder of MEHAIR said, “These aircraft are quite safe as they land well both on hard surface as well as on water. Floats attached to planes add extra protection to them.”
• According to MTDC officials, the service will save a lot of travel time for users when compared to road or rail journeys. Additional chief secretary, Sumit Mullick, said, “Maharashtra is the right choice for such kind of service as the state has got 742 kms of coast line, beautiful beaches and huge reservoirs, but they are not properly connected. 
• The seaplane service will offer an exciting mode of transport to tourists.”