Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday inaugurated a seaplane demo flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam in Nandyal district. After the launch, he addressed a gathering at Punnami Ghat on the Krishna River, expressing his excitement over this innovative initiative. "This is a new experiment. I am very happy. If anything new happens in the country, it should happen in Amaravati," he said, reaffirming his commitment to making Amaravati a hub for modern developments.
Following his speech, CM Naidu, accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, boarded the seaplane and set off toward the temple town of Srisailam.
Naidu highlighted that seaplane services could offer economic benefits and job creation, emphasizing that they require less infrastructure than conventional airports. This approach, he said, would help drive growth and provide employment opportunities in the state. He also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supportive of seaplane initiatives in the southern state.
The state government hopes to establish Andhra Pradesh as a leader in water-based aviation. The chief minister shared that implementing innovative solutions like this can help alleviate poverty and provide revenue for welfare initiatives.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu remarked that seaplane operations mark a new chapter for Andhra Pradesh, bringing transformative potential not only to the state but to India as a whole. He noted that while earlier attempts at seaplane operations had faced delays due to challenges such as the Covid pandemic, CM Naidu had long recognized the value of seaplanes for the region. He further mentioned that Prime Minister Modi had also promoted seaplane trials in Gujarat, indicating national support for water-based aviation projects.
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