FLY BOATS LIKELY TO CONNECT DELHI AND AGRA IN NEXT THREE MONTHS

In an ambitious attempt of augmenting the current transport infrastructure in the country, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said, the central government plans to connect Agra and Delhi by seaplanes, in the not too distant future.

Speaking about the project that will “rewrite the country’s maritime history”, Gadkari said: “The ‘fly boat’ project will start in the next three months. We have also been in discussions with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) in order to frame rules and regulations needed to introduce seaplanes on this route.”

A seaplane is an aircraft that has skis instead of wheels, and can take off from and land on water.

Picture for representational purpose; Source: Reuters via Business Today

The project announcement came with the Parliament passing the Indian Waterways Bill on March 11. The bill intends to revolutionize transportation in the country, aiming to add 106 inland waterways to the existing five in the country.

As an addition, the Centre also plans to operate hovercraft and seabuses in not just Yamuna but across all waterways in the country, the Union minister told Uttar Pradesh-based reporters through a video conference on Thursday.

A detailed project report (DPR) for Yamuna is in place. In the initial phase, dredging will be done from Palla village to Wazirabad in Delhi,” the minister said. “To make this project successful, there is a need to build barrages at two places, along with water gates, to ensure a three-metre water draft in Yamuna round-the year. Only then can such aircraft navigate.”

Mr Gadkari communicated about the three stakeholders in the flyboat project, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Jal Board and his ministry, and a high-level meeting would be called in the next month to discuss intricacies of the project.

Jal Board has been assigned with preventing effluents flowing into Yamuna, DDA will beautify the riverbanks and the ministry of road transport and highways will oversee dredging works in order to maintain required water levels.