Now, Maharashtra tourism gets wings

The first seaplane service of Maharashtra will eventually connect Mumbai with state tourist destinations adjacent to suitable water bodies even though there are no runways at these destinations.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (MEHAIR) launched the first seaplane service of Maharashtra in Mumbai recently. The company’s amphibian planes will eventually connect Mumbai with state tourist destinations adjacent to suitable water bodies even though there are no runways at these destinations.

The service was launched by Chhagan

Bhujbal, Minister of Tourism and Public Works, Maharashtra Govt. The function was presided over by

Ranjit Kamble, Minister of State Tourism & Public Works, Maharashtra Govt, in the pres-

Seaplanes will turn vacation destinations into weekend destinations

Jagdish Patil Managing Director, MTDC

ence of Sumit Mullick, Additional Chief Secy & Chief Protocol Officer, Government of Maharashtra; Jagdish Patil, MD, MTDC; Satish Soni, Director (Tourism), Siddharth

Verma, Director & CoFounder, MEHAIR and Vivek

Kumar, Executive Director Worker, Sahara India Pariwar and CEO, Aamby Valley City and Hotel Sahara Star.

Talking about the facility, Bhujbal stated, “The Government of Maharashtra is pleased to announce the launch of seaplane services for commuters in Maharashtra. The service will provide ease to the tourist and locals who travel to various tourist destinations of Maharashtra. MEHAIR has come-up with this novel concept and we are happy that Maharashtra is the first state to have such a service in the mainland of India.”

The seaplane service is being launched in Maharashtra with a Cessna 206 Amphibian and another Cessna 208 Amphibian aircraft will be inducted by April 14. Both these two models can accommodate 4 to 9 passengers, respectively. " This new and exciting mode of transport will provide the last mile connectivity to those popular tourist destinations where there is no airport. A seaplane is a quick, convenient and exciting mode of travel which will lend impetus to the tourism initiative of the Govt of Maharashtra. This venture was only possible with the tremen- dous support from the MTDC,” Verma said.

Calling the services a boost to tourism, Patil said, "Seaplanes will turn vacation destinations into weekend destinations.”