Feasibility report under scrutiny as years-old seaplane plan remains grounded  

 

More than a decade after a seaplane first touched down on the waters of Khindsi Lake, the ambitious water aerodrome project envisioned as Vidarbha's gateway to regional seaplane connectivity continues to await its next milestone, with the proposal still confined to the planning stage. The latest hurdle is the scrutiny of the Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR), recently submitted by the appointed consultant to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC). Officials familiar with the development said the report is presently being examined, and only after it receives approval will the project move to the next phase involving preparation of an implementation roadmap, statutory clearances and detailed execution planning.

 

The development indicates that physical work on the long-awaited project is still some distance away. Officials said investment estimates, implementation schedules and construction timelines will be finalised only after the feasibility report is approved and statutory clearances are secured. No official project cost or completion deadline has yet been announced. The concept is far from new. In 2014, a demonstration seaplane successfully landed at Khindsi Lake, establishing the technical feasibility of operating amphibious aircraft from the waterbody.

 

The successful landing had generated optimism that the region could soon become part of India's emerging seaplane network. Since then, hydrographic surveys, route assessments and other technical studies have been carried out. Officials have maintained that approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other statutory agencies will be required before construction of water aerodrome infrastructure can begin.