Kerala's Seaplane service trial run from Kochi to Munnar on Monday
Kochi, Nov 9: Kerala's ambitious seaplane project is set to take flight, with the first seaplane scheduled to land at Bolgatty backwaters here at 2:30 pm on Sunday.
Minister of Tourism PA Muhammad Riyas will flag off the trial of sea plane service from Bolgatty to Mattupetti reservoir near Munnar at 9.30 am on Monday, Transport Secretary(Aviation, Metro and Railways) Biju Prabhakar said here, on Saturday.
A reception will be held for the pilots of the aircraft at the Bolgatty Palace to mark the occasion.
Biju Prabhakar stated that the Seaplane project will transform Kerala's tourism sector, urging stakeholders to fully leverage the opportunities it presents.
"The project aims to create high-value tourism opportunities. Beyond tourism, it has also potential for boosting medical transport, emergency evacuation, and VIP travels sectors. The trial service is intended to demonstrate the project's feasibility to tourism operators and the public," he added.
The seaplane initiative is part of the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. It was officially inaugurated on Saturday, at Andhra Pradesh, Prabhakar said.
The amphibious aircraft, which can take off and land on both land and water, has a capacity to carry nine passengers. After arriving from Andhra Pradesh, the seaplane will make a refueling stop at Kochi International Airport before landing at Bolgatty Marina in Kochi at 2:30 pm, he added.
Before the trial, Biju Prabhakar visited the Marina to review security measures and ensure everything was in place for the seaplane's landing.
According to Tourism department officials, seaplanes are amphibious aircraft capable of taking off and landing on both land and water, offering passengers the unique advantage of stunning aerial views through large windows.
Traveling over the scenic landscapes of Munnar and the Western Ghats promises a truly memorable experience for travelers.
One of the key benefits of seaplanes is that they eliminate the high costs associated with building and maintaining traditional airstrips, officers said.
The government is planning to develop a seaplane tourism circuits that will connect major water bodies and airports across Kerala. This includes destinations like Mattupetty in Idukki, Malampuzha in Palakkad, Vembanadu in Alappuzha, Ashtamudikkayal in Kollam, Chandragiripuzha inKasargod, and Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, they added.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
