India to have 10,000 seaplanes in the next two years, says Nitin Gadkari

Thane: Urging the state governments to adopt new modes of transport like waterways, Union minister Nitin Gadkari today announced that 10,000 seaplanes would be brought into operation in the country over the next two years. He also said that in the next three months, rules and regulations would be put in place for operating seaplanes in the country.

“The state governments should take to new modes of transportation, including inland waterways to avoid pollution and related issues arising out of road transport,” the minister said. He was speaking at the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony of the new bridge on Versova creek that will connect Mumbai to Ahmedabad. The project is worth Rs 3,000 crore.

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“Around 10,000 seaplanes would be brought into the country in the next two years. Within the next three months, rules and regulations would be put in place for (operating) seaplanes. Trials were recently taken in the sea in Mumbai. This will br” Gadkari said. The Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister said the Maharashtra government should focus on transportation through seaplanes, which will “ensure speed and avoid pollution”.

“Waterways should be encouraged in the country. Now, you (Maharashtra government) should concentrate on developing waterways in Mumbai,” he said. The chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has assured me that by April this year, water transport would be introduced in and around Mumbai, Gadkari said.