Close on the heels of seaplane services trials in various spots, including Andhra's Vijayawada and Kerala's Munnar, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu will inaugurate the demonstration of seaplane operations at Meghalaya's Umiam Lake sports complex today. The event showcases seaplanes' versatility, take-off and landing, and how they can connect various regions. "If you are tired of travelling by road from Guwahati to Umiam Lake and tired of winding through the traffic, try hopping on to a seaplane for a different kind of experience," said the Meghalaya tourism department on its social media page, adding, "The day is not far off from when you can go on a seaplane from Guwahati Riverfront to scenic Umiam Lake in Meghalaya." Spice Jet will operate the seaplanes, while the aircraft will be from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada.
The District Magistrate of Ri-Bhoi district, where Umiam Lake is situated, issued a prohibitory order on all water-related activities at Umiam Lake today from 7 am to 1 pm. The restrictions apply to fishing, boating, water sports, rides, and other similar activities, as well as the presence of individuals in the lake area during the specified time.
As per reports, the Union Govt plans to launch the services in Guwahati, Umrangso and Kaziranga National Park. Apparently, dockyards will be set up at all these three open water stretches. The Guwahati - Shillong seaplane service was okayed by the Centre in 2019 to promote tourism, but the project got delayed due to various roadblocks, including the pandemic.
