Mumbai: 

The idea is to cut down travel time to these places, give tourists a special flying experience, and promote the state’s natural beauty and cultural attractions.

After nearly a decade, Maharashtra is planning to restart its seaplane tourism project. The goal is to boost regional travel and attract more visitors to beautiful but hard-to-reach areas. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has decided to begin seaplane flights again, connecting major cities like Mumbai and Pune to tourist spots such as Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri, Koyna Dam in Satara, Ujani Dam in Solapur, and Mandwa near Alibaug, according to a report by The Indian Express.

This time, officials say the plan is more practical and better prepared. A senior MTDC official told The Indian Express that this round will focus on routes with better chances of success. The new plan uses existing helipads and approved water bodies. Also, the tourism department is working closely with aviation regulators to make the process easier and quicker.

Back in February 2014, a similar service was launched. A nine-seater seaplane flew between Mumbai and Pavana Dam near Lonavala. But that project was short-lived. It ran into trouble due to slow approval processes and legal problems involving its private partner, the Sahara Group. There was also a plan for a seaplane service from Juhu to Girgaum Chowpatty in Mumbai, but that did not take off either, as the needed permissions to build a jetty at Chowpatty were never granted.

Seaplanes to accommodate 9 to 19 passengers

Tourism experts believe that the success of this plan will depend on keeping ticket prices low, running the flights regularly, and making people more aware of the option. One tourism analyst told The Indian Express that seaplane rides are more useful when they’re part of travel packages that include other transport options and hotel stays.

If everything goes according to plan, Maharashtra might become one of the first states in India to run a full seaplane network across multiple routes. Some of these routes could begin operating in the next few months, once all final approvals are granted.

Under this renewed plan, the government will use small seaplanes with seating for 9 to 19 passengers. These aircraft can land both on land and water. MTDC has already invited bids from airline companies that have experience with such planes, as per the report.

The aim is to make travel to tourist spots faster, help local businesses, and support tourism in smaller regions. Maharashtra has a lot of variety in its natural beauty — beaches, hills, and even world heritage sites — which makes it a great place for seaplane travel. Officials have also said that some of these seaplane flights will offer short air tours showing off the state’s landscapes, historical places, and cultural spots.

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