#GoodNews: Soon, Seaplanes Will Connect Andaman Islands

Campbell Bay, Car Nicobar, Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep are among the islands to be connected under the scheme.

Photo used for representation. 

(Photo: PTI)

Islands in Andaman will soon be connected through seaplanes.

The government has approved operations on 13 water aerodrome routes under its ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik’ (UDAN) scheme, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Tuesday, 8 January, according to a Hindustan Times report.

Seaplanes are aircraft that can land or take-off from water.

Under the UDAN 3 scheme, the islands to be connected through seaplanes are Campbell Bay, Car Nicobar, Swaraj Dweep, Hutbay, Shaheed Dweep, Long Island and Diglipur, according to Business Standard.

The ministry had received bids for flights to 13 water ports, of which five are from Andaman, while the remaining are from Gujarat and Kerala.

A government official told HT that following the ministry's approval, the proposed routes will be awarded by June. The official added that the decision to allow seaplanes to operate was taken after an extensive survey was undertaken by aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

“Andaman Airways Private Limited and Spicejet have shown interest in operating sea planes. We had opened the window for UDAN 3 on November 2 and financial bids were opened on January 2. Total 111 proposals have been received by 15 airlines to connect different sectors, of which 13 are for water aerodromes.”

Government official, as told to <i>Hindustan Times</i>

Reports say that the government’s move to connect islands through seaplanes will boost tourism in Andaman.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and Business Standard)