Syllabus Section: Economy

Why in News?

The Government of India is to initiate the project of Sagarmala Seaplane Services on selected routes. The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the Ministry.

Objectives:

• The project aims to provide air connectivity to numerous tourist, religious, remote and unexplored locations near water bodies.
•  This is to make the journey easier and simulate tourism on these new locations.
•  Ultimately the project will contribute to boost the GDP of the country in the long run.

Advantages:

• Apart from providing air connectivity to various remote religious/tourist places, it will boost tourism for domestic and international holidaymakers.
• It will save travel time and stimulate localised short distance travelling especially in the hilly regions or across the rivers and lakes.
• In addition to the infrastructural enhancements at the places of operations, it will enormously boost tourism and business activities.
• It will generate employment opportunities and stimulate tourism on these new locations, which will consequently contribute to the country's GDP in the long run.

Investment Model and routes:

• The proposed Origin-Destination pairs under Hub and Spoke model include various islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Guwahati Riverfront & Umranso Reservoir in Assam, Yamuna Riverfront / Delhi (as Hub) to Ayodhaya etc.
• One such Seaplane Service is already in operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister on 31st October 2020.
• To run more such services in the coastal areas or proximity to water bodies, SDCL is keen to associate with the interested scheduled / non-scheduled airline operators.

Source: PIB