CM Naidu launches Seaplane operations in Andhra

VIJAYAWADA0(Andhra Pradesh): After launching the trial run for seaplane services, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that this will create employment in the state and would upgrade tourism to an industrial status.

“This is a boom for tourism. The future is only for tourism. It will also create jobs, wealth, excitement and new experiences for people. So I don’t want to focus only on seaplanes, we are giving tourism an industrial status. This is where I want to work in a big way to create employment,” CM Nadu told ANI.

While explaining the idea of ‘speed of doing business,’ CM Naidu said that this means that the government will focus on clearing projects faster than before as it remains necessary to “survive and compete.”

Water-based aviation has taken off in Andhra Pradesh! Enjoyed an inaugural seaplane journey from Vijayawada’s Prakasam Barrage to Srisailam. This flight marks a new milestone for Andhra Pradesh, adding a new dimension to our aviation landscape. The swift 45-minute service will… pic.twitter.com/t9bHhdwjPB

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) November 9, 2024

“Ease of doing business is one thing. It means that you are putting timelines. Now we are moving towards speed of doing business which means how fast you can do everything. How fast you can execute the project is important. Then only we can survive and compete. This is what I am working on,” the Chief Minister said.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation board a seaplane as the trial run of seaplane service from Vijayawada to Srisailam in NTR District begins today pic.twitter.com/RBwh6GG2NY

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2024

Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said there was a huge potential for seaplane operations in India. “We are launching the seaplane again today and you can see a beautiful aircraft which has come from Canada. De Havilland has brought the aircraft because we all feel there is a huge potential for seaplane operations in India. And it was tried earlier as well. However, there have been some challenges in operations. After becoming the minister, I have slightly changed the guidelines. In August, we changed the seaplane guidelines and relaunched them, which has increased the confidence of the industry,” Ram Mohan Naidu said.

“Today as a demo route we are doing it from Prakasam Barrage, which is right behind me, to Srisailam Barrage, where if you go by road it takes you eight hours, but this will take you 45 to 50 minutes. We want to connect it to the common man. We are thinking of starting operations in February or March,” the Union Minister said.

Earlier, CM Naidu along with Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu boarded a seaplane as part of the launch for the trial run. The trial run begins today, from Vijayawada to Srisailam in Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao District (NTR) districts. (ANI)