On 31st October 2020, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Seaplane service from Sabarmati riverfront and Statue of Unity, to mark the 146th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The aerial distance between Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Narmada is around 200 kilometres and the seaplane will take about 45 minutes to cover the distance.
The seaplane operations will take off with the assistance of Maldivian aircraft, pilots & crew. SpiceJet will use this leased aircraft to operate eight daily flights with a ticket price of about Rs 4,800.
Water Air-Ports & UDAN
Airports Authority of India is developing water air-ports. The Centre had last year approved subsidised flights from six water airports that include Guwahati riverfront, Nagarjuna Sagar, Shatrunjay Dam and Umrangso reservoir under the third round of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. The first to take off will be the seaplane service between Sabarmati riverfront and Statue of Unity.
In August-end, the aviation ministry had approved 78 new routes under the fourth round of UDAN, which could see Kavaratti water aerodrome in Lakshadweep also getting flights. Agatti and Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep have also been connected by the new routes of UDAN-4.