The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) have launched the first seaplane service of Maharashtra in Mumbai. The amphibian planes will eventually connect Mumbai with tourist destinations adjacent to suitable water bodies even though there are no runways at these destinations.
In the first phase of its operations in Maharashtra, the services will be launched to destinations such as Aamby Valley lake, Mula Dam (Meherabad/Shirdi), Pawna Dam (Lonavla), Varasgaon Dam (Lavasa) and Dhoom Dam (Panchgani/Mahabaleshwar). Fliers can book seats on http://www.mehair.in/ from 5 March 2014.
The service was launched by Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal, Minister (Tourism). Other dignitaries present at the event included, Ranjit Kamble, State Minister for Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Sumit Mullick, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra; Dr Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, MTDC; Satish Soni, Joint Managing Director, MTDC; Siddharth Verma, Director and Co-Founder MEHAIR and Vivek Kumar, CEO, Aamby Valley City.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhujbal said, “This is a one more feather in the cap of Maharashtra Tourism. We have constantly offering best and innovative services and concepts to the tourism in the state. The Seaplane service will add a lot to the tourism and help unlock the potentials.”
Agreeing, Kamble said that it was the need of hour to have such a service. “We have to keep up our pace with the global tourism standards. Maharashtra Tourism has been moving aggressively in the directions of making the state as one of the most favoured destinations in the country.”
The amphibian plane service will be priced to suit all pockets as it will be for the mass market and not for a premium niche. MTDC has partnered with MEHAIR to extend its support and engulf the vast vision and encumbrance of this venture.
Dr Patil, opined that these services will boost tourism greatly. “Seaplanes will turn vacation destinations into weekend destinations. The fatigue and expenditure involved in reaching your destination will also come down drastically,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion Kumar said, “Seaplane services will add to the attraction of the Aamby Valley and will cater to the resident and property owners within Aamby Valley by offering a quick, economical and exciting mode of transport from Mumbai” MEHAIR plans to soon have a full-fledged commuter service from Juhu to Nariman Point which is the star attraction and is much awaited by the people jostling with the heavy traffic of Mumbai.” The first flight is being flagged off to the tourist destination of Aamby Valley which becomes the first seaplane destination in the mainland of India.
The seaplane service is being launched in Maharashtra with a Cessna 206 Amphibian and another Cessna 208 Amphibian aircraft will be inducted by Apr’14 and these two models can accommodate 4 to 9 passengers respectively. “We want to charge our customer affordable rates. A journey from Juhu to Nariman Point could cost Rs 800 in a radio cab, and take at least an hour. We plan to charge an inaugural price of Rs. 750 for our service, which will complete the journey in less than ten minutes. This venture was only possible with the tremendous support from the MTDC,” Verma said.
