Low-cost carrier SpiceJet today said it is exploring possibilities to introduce seaplanes on the Brahmaputra in Assam, making the river the largest waterways in the world. 
 
&quot;We are exploring possibilities for introducing seaplanes in Assam. With the seaplanes, Brahmaputra can be the largest waterway in the world,&quot; SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said at the inaugural function of the Global Investors Summit 2018 here. 
 
Seaplanes have immense potential in the form of tourism, adventure travel as well as improving connectivity, he said but did not elaborate on the company&#39;s plans on introducing them. 
 
Seaplanes are typically fixed-wing aircraft with a much fewer number of seats and can take off from and land on water. 
 
While they have been in use since the 19th century, they have lagged behind full-fledged aircraft after heavy investments were made in setting up airports in the 20th century. They have been re-emerging as a niche segment. 
 
On the air network, the Singh said &quot;We propose to connect Assam to Thailand, Myanmar and other ASEAN countries. This will surely help the region grow economically.&quot; 
 
SpiceJet also aims to help the agriculture sector of Assam and has begun transporting consignments of fresh vegetables and fruits from it to other parts of the country, Singh informed. 
 
&quot;Going forward, SpiceJet will invest in creating a modern supply chain network and build storage capacities across Assam. We want to help the government actively in its &#39;Act East Policy&#39;,&quot; he added. 
 
Singh had said at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos that seaplanes can boost the country&#39;s tourism sector in a big way as they can convert any pond into an airport and can make any river a runway.

&nbsp;

Seaplanes have immense potential in the form of tourism, adventure travel as well as improving connectivity

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet today said it is exploring possibilities to introduce seaplanes on the Brahmaputra in Assam, making the river the largest waterways in the world. "We are exploring possibilities for introducing seaplanes in Assam. With the seaplanes, Brahmaputra can be the largest waterway in the world," SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said at the inaugural function of the Global Investors Summit 2018 here. Seaplanes have immense potential in the form of tourism, adventure travel as well as improving connectivity, he said but did not elaborate on the company's plans on introducing them. Seaplanes are typically fixed-wing aircraft with a much fewer number of seats and can take off from and land on water. While they have been in use since the 19th century, they have lagged behind full-fledged aircraft after heavy investments were made in setting up airports in the 20th century. They have been re-emerging as a niche segment. On the air network, the Singh said "We propose to connect Assam to Thailand, Myanmar and other ASEAN countries. This will surely help the region grow economically." SpiceJet also aims to help the agriculture sector of Assam and has begun transporting consignments of fresh vegetables and fruits from it to other parts of the country, Singh informed. "Going forward, SpiceJet will invest in creating a modern supply chain network and build storage capacities across Assam. We want to help the government actively in its 'Act East Policy'," he added. Singh had said at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos that seaplanes can boost the country's tourism sector in a big way as they can convert any pond into an airport and can make any river a runway.

SpiceJet mulls seaplanes on Brahmaputra

Clear water bodies dotted with 10,000 seaplanes, &#39;floating cities&#39; in the form of ocean cruises and electric vehicles zipping on dedicated highway lanes -- that&#39;s the future as envisioned by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

For the &#39;go-getter&#39; minister at the helm of affairs to overhaul the country&#39;s infrastructure, India has the potential to realise all this and much more.

&quot;I have been talking about seaplanes. If it starts, in India we have the potential of starting 10,000 seaplanes. We have 3 to 4 lakh ponds in India, plenty of dams, 2,000 river ports, 200 small ports and 12 major ports. It will cost less,&quot; Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari told PTI.

The minister said he has asked his civil aviation counterpart Ashok Gajapathi Raju to explore a regulatory regime for single-engine seaplanes to facilitate introduction of such planes in the country as early as possible.

&quot;Seaplanes can land in one foot water and require only 300 metre runway. It has a huge potential and runs at a speed of 400 km per hour.

Our ministry and the aviation ministry will finalise its rules and regulations soon. There are different rules in America, Canada, Japan. We will study their laws in three months,&quot; Gadkari said.

The minister, along with Raju, had participated in a seaplane trial run of budget carrier SpiceJet at the Girgaum Chowpatty off the Mumbai coast on December 9.

SpiceJet plans to buy more than 100 amphibian aircraft at an estimated cost of USD 400 million.

Describing cruises as &quot;floating cities&quot;, Gadkari said they have the potential to swell to more than 950 from about 90 at present.

Cruises from India could go to Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand and massive efforts are underway to boost this segment, including a Rs 1,000 crore terminal being built in Mumbai. A policy is also in the works.

Listing priorities for 2018, Gadkari said work will start on much-awaited India&#39;s first pod taxi project after a high- level panel recommended inviting fresh bids for the same conforming to the strictest global safety standards.

&quot;Seaplanes, cruises, waterways, electric vehicles, pod taxis, catamarans, expressways&quot; or the mammoth Rs 16 lakh crore Sagarmala and Rs 7 lakh crore Bharatmala initiatives will change the face of India&#39;s infrastructure, he claimed.

Another key thrust area would be to reduce crude imports of Rs 7 lakh crore by at least half and provide jobs to at least 50 lakh youth in related industries.

&quot;We are making efforts to overhaul transport. We are importing crude oil worth Rs 7 lakh crore. We have decided to bring cost effective, import substitute, pollution free and indigenous fuel.

&quot;We will gradually convert our transport to electric, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio CNG and other such means. At least 1,000 new industries will begin in the country, employing 50 lakh youth,&quot; he said.

The minister also said electric buses will be promoted.

&quot;We can reduce ticket rates by 30-35 per cent by it. This has super capacitor technology.

A charged bus can run for 36 km and will be charged in 3 minutes.

&quot;We are planning that on Delhi-Mumbai (highway), one lane can be reserved for converting into electric highway,&quot; he said.

As far as batteries are concerned, 11 companies have started manufacturing lithium ion batteries and the prices have dropped by 50 per cent, he said, adding that recently in Gurgaon a green transport fleet of 1,000 electric auto- rickshaws was launched.

Projecting 20,000 kms of highways will be awarded by March 2018, Gadkari said last year it was 16,500 kms.

&quot;This year our road building reached 28 km a day from a mere 2 km a day when we took over. Next year it will be 40 km a day. Next year target will be 25,000 km,&quot; he said.

To power the ambitious highway growth plans, he said NHAI will soon come up with a bond issue offering attractive coupon rates of above 7 per cent. He urged the people to invest in it rather than chit funds or other such schemes.

&quot;We have decided that NHAI will raise funds from the poor... We will try to give 7.5 per cent to the common man and 7.75 per cent to women, those above 60 years and defence personnel. They will get interest for 10 years. Monthly interest will be submitted in their accounts,&quot; he said

Gadkari said his ministry will soon begin work on Rs 7.5 lakh crore highway projects under Bharatmala. The ministry also plans to train about 3.5 lakh workers under the skill development programme for highways.

He also said a certain percentage of the projects above Rs 100 crore will be earmarked for skill development and his ministry alone would create 2 crore jobs.

He said India faces shortages of 22 lakh drivers and one lakh driving training centres are on the anvil in the first phase in collaboration with states.

The minister said he has asked his civil aviation counterpart Ashok Gajapathi Raju to explore a regulatory regime for single-engine seaplanes

Clear water bodies dotted with 10,000 seaplanes, 'floating cities' in the form of ocean cruises and electric vehicles zipping on dedicated highway lanes -- that's the future as envisioned by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. For the 'go-getter' minister at the helm of affairs to overhaul the country's infrastructure, India has the potential to realise all this and much more. "I have been talking about seaplanes. If it starts, in India we have the potential of starting 10,000 seaplanes. We have 3 to 4 lakh ponds in India, plenty of dams, 2,000 river ports, 200 small ports and 12 major ports. It will cost less," Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari told PTI. The minister said he has asked his civil aviation counterpart Ashok Gajapathi Raju to explore a regulatory regime for single-engine seaplanes to facilitate introduction of such planes in the country as early as possible. "Seaplanes can land in one foot water and require only 300 metre runway. It has a huge potential and runs at a speed of 400 km per hour. Our ministry and the aviation ministry will finalise its rules and regulations soon. There are different rules in America, Canada, Japan. We will study their laws in three months," Gadkari said. The minister, along with Raju, had participated in a seaplane trial run of budget carrier SpiceJet at the Girgaum Chowpatty off the Mumbai coast on December 9. SpiceJet plans to buy more than 100 amphibian aircraft at an estimated cost of USD 400 million. Describing cruises as "floating cities", Gadkari said they have the potential to swell to more than 950 from about 90 at present. Cruises from India could go to Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand and massive efforts are underway to boost this segment, including a Rs 1,000 crore terminal being built in Mumbai. A policy is also in the works. Listing priorities for 2018, Gadkari said work will start on much-awaited India's first pod taxi project after a high- level panel recommended inviting fresh bids for the same conforming to the strictest global safety standards. "Seaplanes, cruises, waterways, electric vehicles, pod taxis, catamarans, expressways" or the mammoth Rs 16 lakh crore Sagarmala and Rs 7 lakh crore Bharatmala initiatives will change the face of India's infrastructure, he claimed. Another key thrust area would be to reduce crude imports of Rs 7 lakh crore by at least half and provide jobs to at least 50 lakh youth in related industries. "We are making efforts to overhaul transport. We are importing crude oil worth Rs 7 lakh crore. We have decided to bring cost effective, import substitute, pollution free and indigenous fuel. "We will gradually convert our transport to electric, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio CNG and other such means. At least 1,000 new industries will begin in the country, employing 50 lakh youth," he said. The minister also said electric buses will be promoted. "We can reduce ticket rates by 30-35 per cent by it. This has super capacitor technology. A charged bus can run for 36 km and will be charged in 3 minutes. "We are planning that on Delhi-Mumbai (highway), one lane can be reserved for converting into electric highway," he said. As far as batteries are concerned, 11 companies have started manufacturing lithium ion batteries and the prices have dropped by 50 per cent, he said, adding that recently in Gurgaon a green transport fleet of 1,000 electric auto- rickshaws was launched. Projecting 20,000 kms of highways will be awarded by March 2018, Gadkari said last year it was 16,500 kms. "This year our road building reached 28 km a day from a mere 2 km a day when we took over. Next year it will be 40 km a day. Next year target will be 25,000 km," he said. To power the ambitious highway growth plans, he said NHAI will soon come up with a bond issue offering attractive coupon rates of above 7 per cent. He urged the people to invest in it rather than chit funds or other such schemes. "We have decided that NHAI will raise funds from the poor... We will try to give 7.5 per cent to the common man and 7.75 per cent to women, those above 60 years and defence personnel. They will get interest for 10 years. Monthly interest will be submitted in their accounts," he said Gadkari said his ministry will soon begin work on Rs 7.5 lakh crore highway projects under Bharatmala. The ministry also plans to train about 3.5 lakh workers under the skill development programme for highways. He also said a certain percentage of the projects above Rs 100 crore will be earmarked for skill development and his ministry alone would create 2 crore jobs. He said India faces shortages of 22 lakh drivers and one lakh driving training centres are on the anvil in the first phase in collaboration with states.

India to have 10,000 seaplanes; e-highways on anvil: Gadkari

seaplanes

Seaplanes, News on Seaplanes, stories on Seaplanes, articles on Seaplanes, Seaplanes stories at Wion, Seaplanes news, Seaplanes latest news