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Water aerodromes get govt nod; Sabarmati, Chilka to get first ones

New Delhi:  India can now have regular seaplane services with the government clearing the way for “water aerodromes”.
Seaplanes suddenly became known in the country when Prime Minister Modi flew in one last December + from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati river to Dhabi dam in Mehsana and “taxied” on the river on return. One of the first water aerodromes will in fact come up at Sabarmati, along with Sardar Sarovar Dam and Chilka in Odisha.
“In-principle approval has been given for the construction of water aerodromes in various states across the country. This move will promote tourism as well as connect places of religious importance. To start with, we have identified five states: Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Assam for the development of water aerodromes. For the first phase of the project, Chilka Lake (Odisha), Sabarmati River Front and Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat) have been identified,” Union aviation minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted Saturday.